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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Samsung TL500 front
Portability
88
Imaging
34
Features
54
Overall
42

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 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 TL500
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-72mm (F1.8-2.4) lens
  • 386g - 114 x 63 x 29mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Also referred to as EX1
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung TL500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Samsung. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and TL500 (10MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and TL500 (1/1.7") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 19 months after the TL500 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-12 scores against the TL500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Samsung TL500

 SZ-12 TL500 
IntroducedJanuary 2012July 2010Newer by 19 months

Reasons to pick Samsung TL500 over the Olympus SZ-12

 TL500 SZ-12 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution614k460kCrisper screen (+154k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung TL500

 SZ-12 TL500 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys outside dimensions 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 TL500 has sizing of 114mm x 63mm x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 386 grams (0.85 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung TL500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the TL500.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and TL500 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out specifications. The picture underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and TL500.

To sum up, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus SZ-12 will provide more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer SZ-12 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography factors
Samsung TL500 Portrait photography factors
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
40
focusing manually
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Samsung TL500
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
very small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (386g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Samsung TL500 Sports photography info
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
29
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Samsung TL500 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
64
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (386g)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography highlights
Samsung TL500 Landscape photography highlights
40
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
52
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging factors
Samsung TL500 Vlogging factors
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
64
relatively wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (386 grams)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Samsung TL500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Samsung TL500
 Olympus SZ-12Samsung TL500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Samsung TL500
Alternative name - EX1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-10 2010-07-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-72mm (3.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.4
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow syncro, Manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 386g (0.85 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 114 x 63 x 29mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 40
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 129
Other
Battery life 220 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B SLB-07A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $350 $527