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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Samsung SL30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
14
Overall
24

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 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 SL30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 140g - 94 x 61 x 23mm
  • Launched February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as ES15
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Samsung SL30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Samsung. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and SL30 (10MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was unveiled 2 years after the SL30 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the SZ-12 scores vs the SL30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Samsung SL30

 SZ-12 SL30 
LaunchedJanuary 2012February 2009More modern by 36 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung SL30 over the Olympus SZ-12

 SL30 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung SL30

 SZ-12 SL30 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 offers external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Samsung SL30 has sizing of 94mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 versus Samsung SL30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 and the SL30.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and SL30 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by checking out specs. The picture underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and SL30.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-12 to provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The younger SZ-12 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Samsung SL30 Portrait photography information
33
MP count good (14MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
24
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
Samsung SL30 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Samsung SL30 Sports photography information
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung SL30 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Samsung SL30
40
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Samsung SL30 Vlogging features
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
25
comes with face detection focus
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung SL30
 Olympus SZ-12Samsung SL30
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus SZ-12 Samsung SL30
Also called - ES15
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 140 grams (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 94 x 61 x 23mm (3.7" 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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $350 $93