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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 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 H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony H55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the H55 (14MP) is very well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was launched 20 months after the H55 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 scores against the H55 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony H55

 SZ-12 H55 
ReleasedJanuary 2012June 2010More modern by 20 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Olympus SZ-12

 H55 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony H55

 SZ-12 H55 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 has physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony H55 has specifications of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony H55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 vs the H55.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and H55 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through specs. The picture below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and H55.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP so you can expect similar quality of photos though you would want to consider the age of the products into consideration. The younger SZ-12 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
Sony H55 Portrait photography advice
33
resolution is good (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography information
Sony H55 Street photography information
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography factors
Sony H55 Sports photography factors
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H55 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony H55 as a Landscape photography camera
40
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
42
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Sony H55 Vlogging features
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
28
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony H55
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-10 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 200 grams (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $350 $235