Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic LZ20

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic LZ20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is very comparable and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was released 6 months before the LZ20 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ-12 matches up against the LZ20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery and Panasonic LZ20 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys 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) whilst the Panasonic LZ20 has dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic LZ20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 versus the LZ20.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and LZ20 is 89 and 71 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The graphic underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and LZ20.

All in all, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic LZ20 to produce more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively.