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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Samsung NX mini front
Portability
93
Imaging
51
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini 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
  • Announced January 2012
Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Revealed March 2014
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Samsung. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and NX mini (20.5MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NX mini (1") come with different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-12 was revealed 3 years earlier than the NX mini and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX mini being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SZ-12 matches up against the NX mini when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Samsung NX mini

 SZ-12 NX mini 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Olympus SZ-12

 NX mini SZ-12 
RevealedMarch 2014January 2012Fresher by 26 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung NX mini

 SZ-12 NX mini 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 features physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Samsung NX mini has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the NX mini.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and NX mini is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and NX mini.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ-12 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Samsung NX mini will offer you extra detail because of its extra 6.5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
Samsung NX mini Portrait photography advice
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
70
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20.5MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Samsung NX mini
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
81
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
provides focus by touch
lighter than competitors (196 grams)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Samsung NX mini Sports photography highlights
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
54
high shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (20.5 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
great battery pack (650 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Samsung NX mini
65
lighter than competition (226g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
75
great battery pack (650 shots)
lighter than competitors (196 grams)
provides focus by touch
megapixel count good (20.5MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Samsung NX mini
40
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (20.5 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
great battery pack (650 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Samsung NX mini
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competition (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
37
touchscreen enabled
includes face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
lighter than competitors (196g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX mini Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung NX mini
 Olympus SZ-12Samsung NX mini
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus SZ-12 Samsung NX mini
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-01-10 2014-03-19
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20.5 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 21
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Samsung NX-M
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 2
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt)
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 196 gr (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots 650 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $350 $530