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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Boost to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Here is a thorough assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FS42, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 2 years later than the FS42 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-12 grades against the FS42 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FS42

 SZ-12 FS42 
LaunchedJanuary 2012April 2009Fresher by 34 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FS42 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FS42

 SZ-12 FS42 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 has got exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FS42 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-12 vs the FS42.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and FS42 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the gap between sensor sizing only by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and FS42.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-12 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus SZ-12 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer SZ-12 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good megapixels (14MP)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
19
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Panasonic FS42
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
no RAW files
maximum ISO low (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
16
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography details
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1000
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
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 pounds) 132g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 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/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $580