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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 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
  • Released January 2012
Panasonic TS5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 110 x 67 x 29mm
  • Launched July 2013
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FT5
  • Superseded the Panasonic TS4
  • Updated by Panasonic TS6
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic TS5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the TS5 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 18 months prior to the TS5 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ-12 matches up against the TS5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic TS5

 SZ-12 TS5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 TS5 SZ-12 
LaunchedJuly 2013January 2012Fresher by 18 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic TS5

 SZ-12 TS5 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 has outside 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 TS5 has measurements of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic TS5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the TS5.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and TS5 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing specs. The visual below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and TS5.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic TS5 to render extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic TS5 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
32
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic TS5 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography details
Panasonic TS5 Sports photography details
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
good battery power (370 per charge)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
Panasonic TS5 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than others (226g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
72
good battery power (370 per charge)
environment sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Panasonic TS5 Landscape photography details
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery power (220 shots)
no Time Lapse function
52
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
good battery power (370 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging info
Panasonic TS5 Vlogging info
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
lighter than others (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no mic port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic TS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic TS5
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FT5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2012-01-10 2013-07-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface 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 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 214 gr (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 67 x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 pictures 370 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B DMW-BCM13
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 One One
Launch cost $350 $350