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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic SZ8, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was released 24 months before the SZ8 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-12 scores vs the SZ8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic SZ8

 SZ-12 SZ8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus SZ-12

 SZ8 SZ-12 
ReleasedJanuary 2014January 2012Newer by 24 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic SZ8

 SZ-12 SZ8 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 provides outside dimensions 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 SZ8 has sizing of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic SZ8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-12 against the SZ8.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and SZ8 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The picture underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and SZ8.

All in all, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should expect the Panasonic SZ8 to give extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography details
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
35
good resolution (16MP)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography features
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography factors
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
lighter than competition (159g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery life (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
32
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than competition (159 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-10 2014-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-6.3
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 159 grams (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 200 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $350 $275