Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A580

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A580, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the A580 (16MP) is very comparable but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-12 was unveiled 8 months after the A580 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SZ-12 grades versus the A580 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 has got outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A580 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 and the A580.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and A580 is 89 and 64 respectively.

In many cases, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by seeing specifications. The picture below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and A580.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A580 will provide extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher SZ-12 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.