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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 FH27
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 152g - 99 x 57 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FH27 (16MP) is fairly well matched and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was brought out 13 months after the FH27 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SZ-12 grades versus the FH27 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FH27

 SZ-12 FH27 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2011Newer by 13 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH27 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FH27 SZ-12 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH27

 SZ-12 FH27 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FH27 has specifications of 99mm x 57mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the FH27.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and FH27 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and FH27.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic FH27 to give greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The younger SZ-12 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH27 Portrait photography information
34
good MP (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
34
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Panasonic FH27
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH27 as a Sports photography camera
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Panasonic FH27
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
comes with focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FH27 Landscape photography details
40
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
43
relatively wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH27 Vlogging features
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
32
relatively wide (28mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH27 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH27
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine VI
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 152 gr (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 99 x 57 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photos 250 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $350 $229