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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Samsung SL720 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 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
  • Released January 2012
Samsung SL720
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-102mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 168g - 92 x 61 x 23mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Other Name is PL70
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung SL720, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the SL720 (12MP) is fairly similar and they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 2 years later than the SL720 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Samsung SL720 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the SL720 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Samsung SL720

 SZ-12 SL720 
ReleasedJanuary 2012July 2009More recent by 31 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung SL720 over the Olympus SZ-12

 SL720 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung SL720

 SZ-12 SL720 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 features outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Samsung SL720 has dimensions of 92mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 168 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung SL720 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 versus the SL720.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and SL720 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and SL720.

As you can see, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-12 to deliver greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The more modern SZ-12 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Samsung SL720 Portrait photography details
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
20
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Samsung SL720 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than others in class (168 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography advice
Samsung SL720 Sports photography advice
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
offers tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
17
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Samsung SL720 Travel photography details
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
55
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (168 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung SL720 as a Landscape photography camera
40
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
27
fairly wide (28mm)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging factors
Samsung SL720 Vlogging factors
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
25
fairly wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
heavier than others in class (168g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung SL720 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung SL720
 Olympus SZ-12Samsung SL720
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus SZ-12 Samsung SL720
Also referred to as - PL70
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2012-01-10 2009-07-14
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-102mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.7
Macro focus range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology 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 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 gr (0.50 pounds) 168 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 92 x 61 x 23mm (3.6" 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 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $350 $119