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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 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 ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic ZS45, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is fairly comparable and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 4 years prior to the ZS45 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-12 grades against the ZS45 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic ZS45

 SZ-12 ZS45 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus SZ-12

 ZS45 SZ-12 
ReleasedJanuary 2015January 2012Newer by 36 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS45

 SZ-12 ZS45 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 offers outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS45 has dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic ZS45 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 versus the ZS45.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and ZS45 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and ZS45.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS45 to show greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
33
resolution is good (14MP)
comes with face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
37
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (249 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography features
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS45
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
better than average battery life (350 CIPA)
lighter than others (249 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
47
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (350 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
34
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (249g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-10 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface 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
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 21
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.00 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 249 grams (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 350 images
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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $350 $300