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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic SZ3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the SZ3 (16MP) is relatively close and they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 12 months before the SZ3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the SZ3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic SZ3

 SZ-12 SZ3 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus SZ-12

 SZ3 SZ-12 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2012Fresher by 12 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic SZ3

 SZ-12 SZ3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 provides outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic SZ3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 versus the SZ3.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and SZ3 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and SZ3.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Panasonic SZ3 to render more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
34
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
30
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
41
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (220 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than others (126 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography advice
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery life (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
39
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 126 gr (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 250 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $350 $150