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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 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
  • Launched January 2012
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony A6500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was introduced 5 years earlier than the A6500 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 scores versus the A6500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony A6500

 SZ-12 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus SZ-12

 A6500 SZ-12 
IntroducedOctober 2016January 2012Fresher by 57 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A6500

 SZ-12 A6500 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony A6500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 and the A6500.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing just by looking through specifications. The graphic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and A6500.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-12 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A6500 will result in extra detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
33
good resolution (14MP)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
80
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
Sony A6500 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Sports photography camera
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
has tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
77
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery pack (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
Sony A6500 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery life (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
74
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6500 Landscape photography highlights
40
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
low battery pack (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Sony A6500 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
39
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A6500
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Alpha a6500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2012-01-10 2016-10-06
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
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 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 425
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 453g (1.00 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 350 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $350 $1,298