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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic G6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 122 x 85 x 71mm
  • Announced April 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic G5
  • Replacement is Panasonic G7
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic G6, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the G6 (16MP) is very well matched but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and G6 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 15 months earlier than the G6 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G6 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ-12 scores vs the G6 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic G6

 SZ-12 G6 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G6 over the Olympus SZ-12

 G6 SZ-12 
AnnouncedApril 2013January 2012Newer by 15 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1036k460kCrisper display (+576k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic G6

 SZ-12 G6 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 has exterior measurements 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 G6 has sizing of 122mm x 85mm x 71mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.8") and a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic G6 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 vs the G6.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and G6 is 89 and 74 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specs. The image here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and G6.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh harder and the Panasonic G6 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Panasonic G6
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Panasonic G6
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography details
Panasonic G6 Sports photography details
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
no phase detect AF
56
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
Panasonic G6 Travel photography info
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
72
includes focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography features
Panasonic G6 Landscape photography features
40
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
67
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic G6 Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than others (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
73
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic G6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic G6
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-10 2013-04-24
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
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, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 390 gr (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 122 x 85 x 71mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 340 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $750