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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Samsung NX30 front
Portability
75
Imaging
62
Features
85
Overall
71

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Samsung NX30
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Samsung NX30

 SZ-12 NX30 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Olympus SZ-12

 NX30 SZ-12 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014January 2012More recent by 24 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1036k460kSharper 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 size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 size comparison

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

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Samsung NX30
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX30 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
75
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Samsung NX30 Sports photography info
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX30 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
74
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
Samsung NX30 Landscape photography info
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Samsung NX30 Vlogging features
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
75
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung NX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung NX30
 Olympus SZ-12Samsung 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