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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Samsung NX100 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Samsung NX100
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 282g - 120 x 71 x 35mm
  • Introduced September 2010
  • Updated by Samsung NX200
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Samsung. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the NX100 (15MP) is pretty close but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NX100 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 17 months after the NX100 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SZ-12 grades against the NX100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Samsung NX100

 SZ-12 NX100 
IntroducedJanuary 2012September 2010Newer by 17 months

Reasons to pick Samsung NX100 over the Olympus SZ-12

 NX100 SZ-12 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung NX100

 SZ-12 NX100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 offers external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX100 has specifications of 120mm x 71mm x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 against the NX100.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and NX100 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and NX100.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Samsung NX100 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer SZ-12 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX100 as a Portrait photography camera
33
MP count good (14MP)
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
73
focusing manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography information
Samsung NX100 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
image stabilization
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Samsung NX100 Sports photography info
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
60
image stabilization
MP count good (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (420 CIPA)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Samsung NX100 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
66
good battery pack (420 per charge)
MP count good (15MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography features
Samsung NX100 Landscape photography features
40
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (220 shots)
no Timelapse mode
75
focusing manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization
MP count good (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (420 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX100 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
31
image stabilization
offers face detection focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung NX100
 Olympus SZ-12Samsung NX100
General Information
Brand Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Samsung NX100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-10 2010-09-14
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - DRIMe Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD VGA AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 282 gr (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 120 x 71 x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 62
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 563
Other
Battery life 220 images 420 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $350 $386