Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30
89 Imaging
37 Features
36 Overall
36


75 Imaging
62 Features
85 Overall
71
Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Samsung NX Mount
- 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
- Announced January 2014
- Replaced the Samsung NX20

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Overview
Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Samsung NX30, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and NX30 (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NX30 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

The SZ-12 was announced 24 months earlier than the NX30 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the NX30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SZ-12 & Samsung NX30. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Samsung NX30 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Samsung NX30
SZ-12 | NX30 |
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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Olympus SZ-12
NX30 | SZ-12 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | January 2014 | ![]() | January 2012 | More recent by 24 months |
Manual focus | ![]() | More accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Screen resolution | 1036k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper screen (+576k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung NX30
SZ-12 | NX30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen size |
Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has got physical 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 Samsung NX30 has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") and a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs).
Check out the Olympus SZ-12 versus Samsung NX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the NX30.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and NX30 is 89 and 75 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and NX30.
Clearly, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Samsung NX30 will give you extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Specifications
Olympus SZ-12 | Samsung NX30 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Samsung |
Model type | Olympus SZ-12 | Samsung NX30 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2012-01-10 | 2014-01-03 |
Body design | Compact | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | DRIMeIV |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14MP | 20MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | - | 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 5472 x 3648 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | - | 247 |
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Samsung NX |
Lens zoom range | 25-600mm (24.0x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/3.0-6.9 | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 32 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display sizing | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 460k dot | 1,036k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | TFT Color LCD | AMOLED |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.66x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 4 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1700 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 1.0 frames/s | 9.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in | - |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
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 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 226 gr (0.50 pounds) | 375 gr (0.83 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") | 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 77 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.5 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.4 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1014 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 220 photographs | 360 photographs |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LI-50B | BP1410 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) | Yes (2 - 30 secs) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD, SDHC, SDXC |
Storage slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $350 | $699 |