Clicky

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 front
Portability
65
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 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 A450
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 560g - 137 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced January 2010
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A450, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the A450 (14MP) is very well matched but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and A450 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The SZ-12 was brought out 2 years later than the A450 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SZ-12 grades vs the A450 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony A450

 SZ-12 A450 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012January 2010More recent by 25 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A450 over the Olympus SZ-12

 A450 SZ-12 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A450

 SZ-12 A450 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 has got external 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) and the Sony A450 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A450 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the A450.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and A450 is 89 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and A450.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-12 has the tinier sensor which is going to make getting bokeh trickier. The younger SZ-12 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A450 Portrait photography highlights
33
MP count decent (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
72
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony A450 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Sony A450 Sports photography information
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
77
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect AF
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography highlights
Sony A450 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
great battery power (1,050 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Sony A450
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
66
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (1,050 per charge)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Sony A450 Vlogging details
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
9
no video shooting
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A450 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A450
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha DSLR-A450
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha DSLR-A450
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-01-10 2010-01-05
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Clear Photo Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Fill, Rear Sync, Slow Sync, Wireless/ High Speed Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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 226g (0.50 lbs) 560g (1.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 137 x 104 x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 769
Other
Battery life 220 shots 1050 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $350 $1,241