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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2012
Panasonic FH22
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 170g - 100 x 57 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS33
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FH22 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 2 years later than the FH22 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the SZ-12 scores versus the FH22 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FH22

 SZ-12 FH22 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2010More recent by 25 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH22 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FH22 SZ-12 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH22

 SZ-12 FH22 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH22 has measurements of 100mm x 57mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 170 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the SZ-12 against the FH22.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and FH22 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by checking technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and FH22.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical MP and you can expect similar quality of pictures but you will need to factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The newer SZ-12 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH22 Portrait photography features
33
MP count decent (14MP)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
28
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
Panasonic FH22 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
62
image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH22 Sports photography information
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
max fps low (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH22 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition (226g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
has focus via touch
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH22 Landscape photography highlights
40
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
41
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH22 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH22 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH22
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH22
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS33
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2010-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 170 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 100 x 57 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $350 $200