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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic ZS25
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 193g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ35
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS20
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS30
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS25, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the ZS25 (16MP) is fairly close and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was released 12 months before the ZS25 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-12 scores versus the ZS25 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic ZS25

 SZ-12 ZS25 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS25 over the Olympus SZ-12

 ZS25 SZ-12 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2012More recent by 12 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS25

 SZ-12 ZS25 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 features physical 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 ZS25 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS25 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the ZS25.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and ZS25 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and ZS25.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS25 to provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS25 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
32
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS25 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competitors (193g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS25 as a Sports photography camera
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS25 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competitors (193g)
offers focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (260 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS25
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery life (220 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
43
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery life (260 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS25 as a Vlogging camera
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
34
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (193 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS25
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ35
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-10 2013-01-07
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
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 pounds) 193 gr (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 pictures 260 pictures
Form 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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $300