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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
48
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 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
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Launched July 2006
  • Succeeded the Konica Minolta 5D
  • Newer Model is Sony A550
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and A100 (10MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was unveiled 5 years after the A100 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the A100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony A100

 SZ-12 A100 
LaunchedJanuary 2012July 2006Newer by 67 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus SZ-12

 A100 SZ-12 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A100

 SZ-12 A100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 has outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A100 has dimensions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the A100.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and A100 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and A100.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus SZ-12 will result in greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer SZ-12 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Sony A100 Portrait photography features
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
52
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
low resolution (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Sony A100
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography advice
Sony A100 Sports photography advice
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
Sony A100 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
45
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography factors
Sony A100 Landscape photography factors
40
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
53
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
Sony A100 Vlogging information
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
9
no video
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A100
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-01-10 2006-07-31
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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 226g (0.50 pounds) 638g (1.41 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.2
DXO Low light score not tested 476
Other
Battery life 220 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $350 $1,000