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Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Ricoh CX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 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
  • Launched January 2012
Ricoh CX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 205g - 102 x 59 x 29mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus SZ-12 and Ricoh CX5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Ricoh. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and CX5 (10MP) but they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 6 months later than the CX5 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SZ-12 grades vs the CX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Ricoh CX5

 SZ-12 CX5 

Reasons to pick Ricoh CX5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 CX5 SZ-12 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Ricoh CX5

 SZ-12 CX5 
LaunchedJanuary 2012July 2011Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 offers exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Ricoh CX5 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 and Ricoh CX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the CX5.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and CX5 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and CX5.

Clearly, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-12 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images much more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Ricoh CX5 Portrait photography information
34
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
28
has manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
Ricoh CX5 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (205g)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Ricoh CX5 Sports photography information
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Ricoh CX5
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
66
lighter than competitors in class (205 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
long reach (300mm)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Ricoh CX5 Landscape photography advice
40
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery power (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
45
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Ricoh CX5 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
30
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (205 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Ricoh CX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Ricoh CX5
 Olympus SZ-12Ricoh CX5
General Information
Brand Olympus Ricoh
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Ricoh CX5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-10 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Smooth Imaging Engine IV
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 lb) 205 gr (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 59 x 29mm (4.0" 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 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B DB-100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2, 10 or Custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $350 $399