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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 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 FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15, former being 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 FS15 (12MP) is relatively close and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was revealed 3 years later than the FS15 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-12 matches up against the FS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FS15

 SZ-12 FS15 
ReleasedJanuary 2012January 2009More recent by 37 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FS15 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FS15

 SZ-12 FS15 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you will have to think about 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") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FS15 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 against the FS15.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and FS15 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The graphic below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and FS15.

To sum up, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus SZ-12 to render extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The newer SZ-12 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography details
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
20
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FS15 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery power (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography details
40
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery power (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FS15 Vlogging advice
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2012-01-10 2009-01-16
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
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 grams (0.50 pounds) 136 grams (0.30 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $180