Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic LZ40

Lets look much closer at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic LZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and LZ40 (20MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 24 months prior to the LZ40 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ-12 scores versus the LZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-12 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Panasonic LZ40 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 provides outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ40 has specifications of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic LZ40 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the LZ40.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and LZ40 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and LZ40.

As you can see, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic LZ40 to provide you with more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.