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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 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-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-3N
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Here is a extensive assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-F3, former being 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-F3 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-12 was released 7 months earlier than the NEX-F3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SZ-12 grades vs the NEX-F3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony NEX-F3

 SZ-12 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus SZ-12

 NEX-F3 SZ-12 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2012Fresher by 7 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-F3

 SZ-12 NEX-F3 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 has outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony NEX-F3 has sizing of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-F3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 against the NEX-F3.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and NEX-F3 is 89 and 86 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and NEX-F3.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-12 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-F3 will offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography features
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Sony NEX-F3
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography highlights
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
53
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery life (470 per charge)
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-F3
40
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (470 shots)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
27
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing mic socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-01-10 2012-08-16
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 16000
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 314 grams (0.69 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 470 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $350 $470