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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 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 ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic ZS100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and ZS100 (1") have different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was launched 5 years earlier than the ZS100 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-12 scores against the ZS100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic ZS100

 SZ-12 ZS100 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus SZ-12

 ZS100 SZ-12 
LaunchedJanuary 2016January 2012More modern by 48 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS100

 SZ-12 ZS100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 offers physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS100 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic ZS100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 against the ZS100.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and ZS100 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The picture below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and ZS100.

As you can tell, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic ZS100 will render greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography details
33
good MP (14MP)
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
64
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
78
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
lighter than others in class (312g)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography highlights
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
67
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
provides tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery power (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
75
lighter than others in class (312g)
provides focus via touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS100
40
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
68
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging highlights
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
35
pretty wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others in class (312 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-10 2016-01-05
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD MOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 49
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 9.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE 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) 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 312g (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 559
Other
Battery life 220 images 300 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $700