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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Launched January 2012
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Below is a extended review of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is pretty similar and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was released 4 years before the ZS50 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-12 scores vs the ZS50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic ZS50

 SZ-12 ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus SZ-12

 ZS50 SZ-12 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015January 2012More recent by 36 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS50

 SZ-12 ZS50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS50 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the ZS50.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and ZS50 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The graphic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and ZS50.

All in all, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus SZ-12 to deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Portrait photography camera
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
42
has manual focus
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than others in class (243g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Sports photography camera
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS50
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
66
lighter than others in class (243 grams)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS50
40
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
51
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS50
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (243g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-10 2015-01-06
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 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB 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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 243 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 44
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 138
Other
Battery life 220 photos 300 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $350 $350