Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic ZS70

Below is a in-depth review of the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS70, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and ZS70 (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was revealed 6 years earlier than the ZS70 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-12 grades against the ZS70 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-12 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Panasonic ZS70 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 has got outside measurements 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 ZS70 has specifications of 112mm x 67mm x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 322 grams (0.71 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic ZS70 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 and the ZS70.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and ZS70 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Typically, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at specifications. The graphic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and ZS70.

To sum up, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Panasonic ZS70 to give you more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.