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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 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
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A350
  • Replacement is Sony A390
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the A380 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-12 was announced 2 years after the A380 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the SZ-12 scores vs the A380 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony A380

 SZ-12 A380 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2009More modern by 29 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Olympus SZ-12

 A380 SZ-12 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A380

 SZ-12 A380 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. 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) and the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-12 versus the A380.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and A380 is 89 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by checking a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and A380.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature the identical megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The SZ-12 uses the tinier sensor which will make getting shallower DOF harder. The fresher SZ-12 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Sony A380 Portrait photography details
33
decent MP (14MP)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
Sony A380 Street photography factors
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
76
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Sony A380
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Sony A380
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
53
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography features
Sony A380 Landscape photography features
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging advice
Sony A380 Vlogging advice
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A380
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-01-10 2009-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 519g (1.14 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 614
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 500 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $350 $899