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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
44
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic FX700
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.2-5.9) lens
  • 176g - 104 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced July 2010
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FX700, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FX700 (14MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was unveiled 18 months after the FX700 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the FX700 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FX700

 SZ-12 FX700 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012July 2010More modern by 18 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX700 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FX700 SZ-12 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FX700

 SZ-12 FX700 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys 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 FX700 has specifications of 104mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.1" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 176 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FX700 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 and the FX700.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and FX700 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The picture here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and FX700.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same megapixels so you can expect similar quality of images although you might want to factor the age of the products into consideration. The more modern SZ-12 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Panasonic FX700
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
38
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
Panasonic FX700 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Panasonic FX700 Sports photography information
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Panasonic FX700 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX700 as a Landscape photography camera
40
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
49
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FX700 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
33
rather wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FX700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FX700
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2010-07-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias 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
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.2-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 7.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 176 grams (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 104 x 56 x 25mm (4.1" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $350 $399