Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GF2

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GF2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the GF2 (12MP) is fairly similar but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and GF2 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-12 was announced 11 months after the GF2 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-12 grades versus the GF2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-12 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Panasonic GF2 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 has got physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF2 has specifications of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GF2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 versus the GF2.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and GF2 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and GF2.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus SZ-12 will offer more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SZ-12 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.