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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FH5 (16MP) is pretty similar and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was launched 13 months after the FH5 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SZ-12 grades versus the FH5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FH5

 SZ-12 FH5 
RevealedJanuary 2012January 2011More modern by 13 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FH5 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH5

 SZ-12 FH5 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FH5 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 versus the FH5.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and FH5 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The image underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and FH5.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic FH5 to offer you more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher SZ-12 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography info
33
decent MP (14MP)
includes face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
34
decent MP (16MP)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Panasonic FH5
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
67
image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition (121 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Panasonic FH5 Sports photography features
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competition (226g)
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery life (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than competition (121g)
features touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography information
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery life (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
38
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FH5 Vlogging highlights
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
lighter than competition (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
33
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine IV
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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (30 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 jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 121 grams (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots 260 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $350 $169