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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 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
  • Announced January 2012
Panasonic TS30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 142g - 104 x 58 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT30
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the TS30 (16MP) is very comparable and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the TS30 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the TS30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic TS30

 SZ-12 TS30 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS30 over the Olympus SZ-12

 TS30 SZ-12 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015January 2012More modern by 36 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic TS30

 SZ-12 TS30 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 offers external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic TS30 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 against the TS30.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and TS30 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out specifications. The picture underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and TS30.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic TS30 to produce greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Panasonic TS30
33
MP count decent (14MP)
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
35
decent MP (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
Panasonic TS30 Street photography info
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
lighter than competition in class (142g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Panasonic TS30 Sports photography information
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
very slow continuous shooting (1.3 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
Panasonic TS30 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
74
lighter than competition in class (142g)
environment proofing
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic TS30 Landscape photography details
40
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
43
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
environment proofing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic TS30 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
33
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (142 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic TS30
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FT30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2012-01-10 2015-01-06
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1300s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 142 gr (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 104 x 58 x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 250 shots
Battery format 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $350 $180