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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 front
Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
57
Overall
44

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 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
  • Released January 2012
Panasonic FZ150
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 528g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced April 2012
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FZ150, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FZ150 (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 3 months before the FZ150 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ150 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SZ-12 scores against the FZ150 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FZ150

 SZ-12 FZ150 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ150 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FZ150 SZ-12 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ150

 SZ-12 FZ150 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012April 2012Similar age
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with physical 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) and the Panasonic FZ150 has sizing of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 528 grams (1.16 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FZ150 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the FZ150.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and FZ150 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The visual here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and FZ150.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-12 to give you greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ150 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good MP (14MP)
includes face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
41
manual focus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ150 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
58
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (528g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Panasonic FZ150 Sports photography info
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
43
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery pack (410 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
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 FZ150
65
lighter than average (226g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
56
better than average battery pack (410 CIPA)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (528 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FZ150 Landscape photography info
40
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
48
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (410 CIPA)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ150
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
lighter than average (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
62
rather wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
slow max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition (528g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ150 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ150
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-10 2012-04-11
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, 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 gr (0.50 pounds) 528 gr (1.16 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 40
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 132
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 410 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $350 $499