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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
56
Features
57
Overall
56

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-3
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony NEX-C3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-12 was released 5 months after the NEX-C3 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the NEX-C3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony NEX-C3

 SZ-12 NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus SZ-12

 NEX-C3 SZ-12 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-C3

 SZ-12 NEX-C3 
ReleasedJanuary 2012August 2011Same age
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 offers outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has dimensions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony NEX-C3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 against the NEX-C3.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and NEX-C3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The image underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and NEX-C3.

As you can tell, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-C3 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography features
33
good resolution (14MP)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Sony NEX-C3
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than average (225g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-C3 Sports photography advice
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
53
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery pack (400 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average (226g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery pack (400 shots)
lighter than average (225 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-C3 as a Landscape photography camera
40
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging features
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
lighter than average (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
27
lighter than average (225g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-01-10 2011-08-22
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
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
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 - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 226g (0.50 pounds) 225g (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1083
Other
Battery life 220 shots 400 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $350 $343