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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2012
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Refreshed by Sony A330
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A300, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and A300 (10MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-12 was introduced 4 years after the A300 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the A300 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony A300

 SZ-12 A300 
IntroducedJanuary 2012January 2008Newer by 49 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Olympus SZ-12

 A300 SZ-12 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A300

 SZ-12 A300 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 provides external dimensions 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 Sony A300 has proportions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A300 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the A300.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and A300 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking specs. The picture underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and A300.

All in all, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-12 will give you greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher SZ-12 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Sony A300
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony A300 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Sony A300 Sports photography info
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
supports tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
54
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Sony A300 Travel photography features
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
45
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Sony A300 Landscape photography information
40
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
57
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Sony A300 Vlogging details
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A300
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-01-10 2008-01-30
Physical type 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 alias filter
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 632 gr (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 538
Other
Battery life 220 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $0