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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 front
Portability
88
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Panasonic ZS60
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 282g - 112 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ80
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS50
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS70
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and ZS60 (18MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 5 years before the ZS60 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the ZS60 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic ZS60

 SZ-12 ZS60 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS60 over the Olympus SZ-12

 ZS60 SZ-12 
LaunchedJanuary 2016January 2012More recent by 48 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS60

 SZ-12 ZS60 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has outside 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 ZS60 has proportions of 112mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-12 and the ZS60.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and ZS60 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and ZS60.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Panasonic ZS60 to result in extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS60 Portrait photography information
33
MP count good (14MP)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
53
focusing manually
good megapixels (18MP)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS60 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
71
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch focus
lighter than competitors (282 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS60 Sports photography features
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS60 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
74
lighter than competitors (282g)
provides touch focus
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS60 Landscape photography advice
40
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
59
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS60
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competitors (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
35
quite wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competitors (282 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS60 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS60
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ80
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-10 2016-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 282g (0.62 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 112 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 37
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 109
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 320 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 3 shots / 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $350 $248