Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP8

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP8, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FP8 (12MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The SZ-12 was launched 2 years after the FP8 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SZ-12 scores versus the FP8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-12 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Panasonic FP8 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FP8 has dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP8 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 against the FP8.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and FP8 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out specifications. The pic below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and FP8.

Plainly, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-12 to produce greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger SZ-12 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.