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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 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
  • Released January 2012
Panasonic FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS22
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FH7, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FH7 (16MP) is pretty similar and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was brought out 5 months after the FH7 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 scores versus the FH7 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FH7

 SZ-12 FH7 
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FH7 SZ-12 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH7

 SZ-12 FH7 
RevealedJanuary 2012September 2011Similar generation
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FH7 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FH7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 versus the FH7.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and FH7 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and FH7.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Panasonic FH7 to offer you extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH7 Portrait photography info
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
34
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
Panasonic FH7 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
lighter than average in class (126 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Sports photography camera
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH7 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than average in class (126g)
includes touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Landscape photography camera
40
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
43
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH7 Vlogging advice
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
lighter than average (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
34
quite wide (28mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FH7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FH7
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS22
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-10 2011-09-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to 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) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 data 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 126g (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 260 images
Style of battery 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 recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $350 $149