Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ100

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ100, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FZ100 (14MP) is fairly close and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 18 months after the FZ100 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the SZ-12 scores vs the FZ100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-12 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Panasonic FZ100 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 features physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ100 has proportions of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the FZ100.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and FZ100 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by viewing specifications. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and FZ100.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution so you can expect comparable quality of images but you should always factor the launch date of the cameras into account. The more recent SZ-12 should have a benefit in sensor technology.