Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GM5

Olympus SZ-12 vs. Panasonic Lumix GM5: Diving Deep into Two Distinct Worlds of Photography

When photographing gear starts to look like an endless maze, comparing models can be a daunting task - especially when they come from different camera families and eras. Today, we pit the Olympus SZ-12, a 2012-era small sensor compact superzoom, against the more recent (yet still compact) Panasonic Lumix GM5, a 2014 entry-level mirrorless camera. Despite the years separating them, both are interesting cameras with distinct philosophies and target users. Having handled and tested thousands of cameras over the past decade and a half, I’m here to unpack their strengths, weaknesses, and how they perform in real-world situations to help you make an informed choice.

Getting to Know the Contenders: A Quick Overview

First, let's frame these two cameras in their broader market context:

• Olympus SZ-12: A compact “point-and-shoot” with a colossal 24x optical zoom lens, designed for convenience and reach. It features a small 1/2.3” CCD sensor, fixed lens (25-600mm equivalent), and beginner-friendly automatic modes. Announced in early 2012, it's essentially a superzoom pocket camera.

• Panasonic Lumix GM5: A mirrorless Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system camera, compact yet considerably more versatile. Sporting a 16MP Four Thirds-sized CMOS sensor, interchangeable lenses, manual controls, and a comprehensive autofocus system. Announced in late 2014, it slots in as a portable entry-level mirrorless aimed at enthusiasts wanting more control and quality.

Immediately, the story becomes clearer: the SZ-12 is convenience and zoom, while the GM5 is image quality and system flexibility. But how do these abstract differences manifest in your daily shooting?

Hands-On with Size, Build, and Ergonomics: Feeling the Cameras in Your Hands

I always start with the ergonomics because it’s the number one factor affecting everyday enjoyment. Olympus calls the SZ-12 a compact, and it indeed feels pocketable and light at just 226 grams and 106x69x40 mm. The Panasonic GM5 is smaller and similarly light (211 grams, 99x60x36 mm), but being a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the lens you attach can greatly impact overall size and weight.

The SZ-12's fixed zoom lens while bulking it slightly upfront is mostly balanced. Its plastic build feels decent but cheap compared to more robust cameras. It lacks weather sealing and sports a minimalist grip, which had me gingerly holding it during longer sessions.

The GM5 is a gem of rangefinder-style design finesse - its magnesium alloy body, subtle curves, and moderate grip area inspire confidence. Even with a prime lens attached, the compact dimensions make it easy to slip into a jacket pocket. However, the smaller body means some controls are a little cramped for large hands - a typical tradeoff for such small MFT cameras.

Looking at their top-down control layouts…

The SZ-12 keeps things ultra-simple: dedicated zoom rocker, shutter button, and a mode dial covering the usual Program, Scene, and Auto modes. No exposure compensation or manual modes.

GM5, on the other hand, serves up full manual controls, an exposure compensation dial, customizable buttons, and a clever combination of analog dials and touchscreen input. While not as button-dense as a professional DSLR, the GM5 is leagues ahead of the Olympus in user interface sophistication - great for enthusiasts demanding creative freedom.

Ergonomics Winner: Panasonic GM5 - It's a joy to hold and operate beyond basic snapping, especially if you prefer shooting manual or semi-auto.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Here’s where the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic GM5 head sharply in different directions:

• The SZ-12 sports a 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring about 6.17 x 4.55 mm with 14 megapixels. These sensors are standard fare for inexpensive superzooms but are known for limited dynamic range (the ability to capture details in bright and dark areas simultaneously) and modest high-ISO performance.

• The GM5 boasts a Four Thirds CMOS sensor sized around 17.3 x 13 mm with 16 MP resolution. This sensor is approximately eight times larger in area than Olympus’s, granting significant advantages in image quality, low light capabilities, and detail rendition.

In real-world testing:

• The SZ-12’s images look fine in bright daylight, with decent color and sharpness at low ISO (80-160). However, zoomed-in shots beyond mid-range focal lengths tend to soften noticeably, plagued by lens diffraction and sensor limitations. Low light and indoor shots reveal considerable noise by ISO 400 and above.

• Panasonic GM5 images impress with clean files straight from the camera. Details pop, dynamic range preserves highlight and shadow info better, and usable ISO extends easily to 3200 and beyond. The ability to shoot in RAW means post-processing control is vastly superior, a feature absent on the SZ-12.

The SZ-12’s fixed anti-aliasing (AA) filter slightly softens images to reduce moiré at the expense of absolute sharpness. The GM5 also includes an AA filter but paired with better sensor tech and processing, it strikes a more favorable balance.

Overall, sensor-centric image quality metrics (based on DxOMark data for the GM5) report a solid color depth of 22.1 bits and a dynamic range around 11.7 EV at base ISO - well above typical small sensor compacts.

Image Quality Verdict: Panasonic GM5 dominates - especially for enthusiasts and professionals who prize detail, dynamic range, and editing flexibility.

The Viewfinder and LCD Experience: Seeing Your Shots

Neither camera has an articulated screen, but both have 3” LCDs, albeit with very different resolutions.

• SZ-12: 3” fixed TFT LCD with 460k dots, no touchscreen functionality, and a physically fixed angle. It’s serviceable but feels dated - colors wash out harshly in sunlight, and detail is a bit muddy. No electronic viewfinder (EVF), which makes composing at eye-level impossible.

• GM5: 3” fixed touchscreen LCD with 921k dots and a crisp, bright panel. The touchscreen allows quick focusing and menu navigation, despite the lack of articulation. The standout feature is its built-in electronic viewfinder with 1166k dots - offering 100% coverage and good magnification, making it easy to compose even in bright conditions.

The presence of an EVF is a game-changer for serious shooting outdoors - especially in bright conditions where LCDs struggle.

Display & Viewfinder Champion: Panasonic GM5, without a doubt.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Decisive Moment

Autofocus is a make-or-break feature, particularly for wildlife, sports, and action shooters.

• Olympus SZ-12 features a contrast-detection autofocus system with face detection and tracking, but only supports single AF and no continuous AF tracking (surprise!). The single shot AF and relatively slow processing translate into a sluggish 1 frame per second continuous shooting speed.

• Panasonic GM5 employs a more sophisticated 23-point contrast-detection AF system, supporting single, continuous, tracking, face detection, and touch-based focus acquisition. It shoots up to about 5.8 fps in continuous mode - a significant advantage for action photography.

In practice:

• The SZ-12’s autofocus felt slow and hesitant when zoomed in. Hunting was frequent in low contrast scenes, rendering it frustrating when shooting spontaneous moments or moving subjects.

• The GM5 locked focus swiftly and tracked moving subjects reliably - though the lack of dedicated phase detection meant it could struggle in very low light compared to more expensive hybrid AF cameras. Still, the responsiveness was impressive for a micromirror system.

Speed and AF Performance: Panasonic GM5 decisively leads here, particularly if you want to freeze fast-moving subjects.

Zoom Lens and System Flexibility: Because One Size Does Not Fit All

Let’s talk glass.

• Olympus SZ-12 features a fixed 25-600 mm equivalent zoom lens with a max aperture of f/3.0-6.9 - a colossal 24x optical zoom, perfect for casual photographers wanting “all-in-one” ease.

• Panasonic GM5, as a Micro Four Thirds system camera, offers access to over 100 native lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties, covering everything from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, primes, and macro lenses. The camera body itself comes lens-free; you must add your own.

This fixed zoom in the SZ-12 is both its blessing and curse. Yes, 600 mm reach is impressive, but at the long end, image quality and sharpness drop off substantially, and the max aperture narrows to f/6.9, limiting low-light reach.

GM5’s system approach requires investment in lenses, but this unlocks creative potential and higher optical qualities. Fast primes for portraits, macro lenses for close-ups, high-quality zooms for wildlife or events - you name it.

The MFT mount’s famous compactness also complements the camera’s small size, making it highly portable with the right glass.

Lens Flexibility Winner: Panasonic GM5, hands down.

Burst, Buffer, and Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photos

Burst and video specs can be decisive for sports shooters and hybrid shooters.

• Olympus SZ-12 shoots sluggish 1 fps burst max, and records HD video at 720p30fps in MPEG-4/H.264 format. No manual exposure control or microphone input, and video stabilization is limited to sensor-shift during stills.

• Panasonic GM5 shoots 5.8 fps burst, capturing images swiftly and reliably. Video is recorded up to 1080p60 in AVCHD or MPEG-4 formats. While it lacks a mic or headphone jack (limiting audio control), the HD video quality, frame rate options, and manual exposure controls make it more capable for videographers.

Furthermore, Panasonic includes time lapse recording in the GM5, absent in the SZ-12.

For hybrid shooters wanting better video and burst shooting, the GM5 is the obvious choice.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Shooting Realities

Both cameras share roughly the same battery life (approx. 220 shots per charge), which will generally require spares for long days.

Storage-wise both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the GM5 supports faster UHS-I cards conducive to its higher burst frame rates.

Connectivity differentiates more:

• SZ-12 has no wireless or Bluetooth at all.

• GM5 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, enabling instant image transfer, remote control, and seamless connectivity with smartphones - hugely beneficial in today's social media era.

Weather Resistance and Build Toughness: Ready for the Elements?

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedized build quality. For outdoor photographers serious about landscapes and wildlife, this is a caveat. However, the GM5's metal alloy body will take more physical abuse compared to the SZ-12’s plastic shell.

Sample Gallery and Image Comparisons

Let’s put words to pixels with a few side-by-side sample images comparing both cameras shooting the same scenes at base ISO, midday light.

Olympus SZ 12 front Olympus SZ 12 screen back Panasonic GM5 front Panasonic GM5 screen back

• The Panasonic GM5 image shows richer color fidelity, sharper edges, and better overall clarity.

• Olympus SZ-12 comes through with decent jpeg compression artifacts and a bit of softness at longer focal lengths.

This aligns with expectations from sensor size and optics.

Ratings Breakdown: Which Camera Excels Where?

To visualize the performance across general categories, here is an overall scorecard based on benchmarking and user experience metrics:

How These Cameras Stack Up in Specific Photography Genres

Not all cameras serve every photographic niche equally. Here’s how these two fare in some key genres:

Portraits:
The GM5’s larger sensor and interchangeable fast primes offer creamy bokeh and accurate skin tones. Olympus struggles to create background separation or crisply sharp portraits because of its small sensor and slow zoom lens.

Landscapes:
GM5 again excels with dynamic range and image fidelity to capture detail in shadows and highlights; plus the ability to use tripod-friendly primes. SZ-12 can do snapshots but falls short on tonal gradation.

Wildlife and Sports:
The SZ-12’s 24x zoom is impressive but slow AF and 1 fps burst hurts fast subjects. GM5’s faster AF and 5.8 fps burst help freeze action - though telephoto lenses are needed.

Street Photography:
For stealth shooting, the SZ-12 is a bit bulkier with a big zoom lens extending outward. The GM5’s rangefinder form factor, quiet shutter, and EVF make it discrete and quick to operate.

Macro:
GM5, paired with dedicated macro MFT lenses, delivers close focusing and image stabilization, which the SZ-12 can’t approximate.

Night & Astro:
GM5’s high ISO and sensor size generate markedly better low light results. No RAW or high ISO help on SZ-12.

Video:
GM5’s 1080p60 and manual controls overshadow the more limited SZ-12.

Travel:
Both are light but GM5 wins on system versatility and image quality - great for serious travelers. SZ-12’s fixed long zoom is attractive for casual snapshotters wanting reach without lens swaps.

Pricing and Value - What are You Getting for Your Money?

As of recent check:

• Olympus SZ-12 roughly retails around $350 new in 2012 (likely lower on used market).

• Panasonic GM5 commands around $960 (body only) at release and remains sought after in the mirrorless community.

In pure dollars, the SZ-12 is a budget superzoom - simple and all-in-one. The GM5 is more of an investment in creative potential.

If you’re starting photography with a limited budget and want a superzoom to grab holiday shots without fuss, SZ-12 makes sense.

If image quality, manual control, and system growth are your priorities - and you have the budget - the GM5 is worth every penny.

Closing Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

This comparison illustrates how different priorities and philosophies manifest in camera design and user experience.

• Go for the Olympus SZ-12 if...

  • You want a straightforward, entry-level zoom camera.
  • Zoom reach (up to 600mm equivalent) is your main need.
  • Simplicity and price-consciousness override image quality.
  • You’re mostly shooting outdoors in good light and casual scenarios.
  • You want no fuss, no lenses to change, and don’t need manual controls.

• Choose the Panasonic GM5 if...

  • Image quality and versatility are paramount.
  • You desire manual control and RAW shooting.
  • You are ready to invest in lenses and grow your system.
  • You shoot in diverse conditions, including low light, portraits, street, or even video.
  • You value an EVF and better autofocus for dynamic subjects.
  • You want Wi-Fi connectivity and longer-term usability.

In the end, these cameras cater to quite different photographers: the SZ-12 for the snapshot zoom enthusiast, and the GM5 for image quality-driven enthusiasts and professionals craving compactness without compromise. Knowing your shooting style and priorities remains the best compass to navigate choices like these.

Hope this helps you navigate the confusing camera jungle! If you've got questions about these models or want recommendations for alternatives in their respective categories, I’m here to help - after all, no two photographers are exactly alike.

Happy shooting!

• Your camera-obsessed friend and tester.