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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R 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 NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5N
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony NEX-5R, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is fairly comparable but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 7 months prior to the NEX-5R which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the NEX-5R with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony NEX-5R

 SZ-12 NEX-5R 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Olympus SZ-12

 NEX-5R SZ-12 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2012Fresher by 7 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-5R

 SZ-12 NEX-5R 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5R has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony NEX-5R in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the NEX-5R.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and NEX-5R is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and NEX-5R.

All in all, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-12 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony NEX-5R will show extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Portrait photography camera
33
good resolution (14MP)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Sony NEX-5R
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
has touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5R
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
68
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
73
has touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography info
40
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (220 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
75
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5R
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
31
built-in touchscreen
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-01-10 2012-08-29
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 99
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 276g (0.61 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 910
Other
Battery life 220 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $350 $750