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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 front
Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
64
Overall
47

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 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
  • Announced January 2012
Panasonic FZ200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ100
  • Newer Model is Panasonic FZ300
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ200, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FZ200 (12MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 6 months earlier than the FZ200 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ200 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 scores vs the FZ200 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FZ200

 SZ-12 FZ200 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ200 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FZ200 SZ-12 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ200

 SZ-12 FZ200 
ReleasedJanuary 2012July 2012Similar generation
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 features outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ200 has measurements of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") having a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ200 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the SZ-12 versus the FZ200.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and FZ200 is 89 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by going over a spec sheet. The pic here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and FZ200.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus SZ-12 to offer you greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FZ200 Portrait photography highlights
34
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
48
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Panasonic FZ200
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
57
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (588g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ200
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
46
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Panasonic FZ200 Travel photography features
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
55
better than average battery life (540 shots)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (588 grams)
low resolution (12MP)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ200 Landscape photography highlights
40
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
48
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (540 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
Panasonic FZ200 Vlogging information
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than others (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
63
decently wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone socket
slow max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition (588 grams)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FZ200 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FZ200
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-10 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine VII FHD
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 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
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
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)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,312k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 13.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (240, 120, 30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 588 grams (1.30 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 37
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 114
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 540 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $499