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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Released December 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NEX-7 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-12 was introduced at a similar time to the NEX-7 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the NEX-7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony NEX-7

 SZ-12 NEX-7 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Olympus SZ-12

 NEX-7 SZ-12 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-7

 SZ-12 NEX-7 
ReleasedJanuary 2012December 2011Same generation
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 has outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the NEX-7.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and NEX-7 is 89 and 84 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and NEX-7.

Clearly, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-7 will produce more detail using its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography information
33
MP count decent (14MP)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
Sony NEX-7 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Sports photography camera
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
61
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery (430 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery life (220 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
70
better than average battery (430 CIPA)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography details
40
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery life (220 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (430 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Sony NEX-7
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
35
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-7
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-01-10 2011-12-13
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 16000
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 226 grams (0.50 lb) 400 grams (0.88 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 81
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1016
Other
Battery life 220 photos 430 photos
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 or 5 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $350 $699