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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 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 FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FP5 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was unveiled 13 months later than the FP5 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the FP5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FP5

 SZ-12 FP5 
RevealedJanuary 2012January 2011More recent by 13 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FP5 SZ-12 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP5

 SZ-12 FP5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 features outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FP5 has measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 against the FP5.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and FP5 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by going over technical specs. The visual here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and FP5.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size and the exact same resolution and you should expect similar quality of photographs although you will need to consider the release date of the products into consideration. The younger SZ-12 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FP5 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
Panasonic FP5 Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FP5 Sports photography highlights
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
great battery power (260 CIPA)
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Panasonic FP5
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
great battery power (260 shots)
boasts focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography details
40
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery power (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
40
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
great battery power (260 per charge)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Panasonic FP5
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
30
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP5
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2012-01-10 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Touch Screen 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 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 4.90 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
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max 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 lb) 141 gr (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 pictures 260 pictures
Form of battery 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $350 $199