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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 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
  • Launched January 2012
Panasonic FS25
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 148g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FS25, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FS25 (12MP) is relatively similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 2 years later than the FS25 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the FS25 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FS25

 SZ-12 FS25 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2009More recent by 36 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS25 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FS25 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FS25

 SZ-12 FS25 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FS25 has specifications of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FS25 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 vs the FS25.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and FS25 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic here will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and FS25.

Clearly, both cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus SZ-12 to offer more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger SZ-12 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS25
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
26
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
Panasonic FS25 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS25 as a Sports photography camera
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Panasonic FS25
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS25 Landscape photography details
40
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery life (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
32
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FS25 Vlogging highlights
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FS25
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-10 2009-01-27
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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 photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 226 grams (0.50 lb) 148 grams (0.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Battery type 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $350 $230