Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic GX8

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic GX8, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and GX8 (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and GX8 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was announced 4 years earlier than the GX8 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SZ-12 scores versus the GX8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery and Panasonic GX8 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 provides outside 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) while the Panasonic GX8 has proportions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic GX8 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-12 vs the GX8.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and GX8 is 89 and 74 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The image underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and GX8.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Panasonic GX8 will result in greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.