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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced about the same time to the HX30V so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SZ-12 matches up against the HX30V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony HX30V

 SZ-12 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus SZ-12

 HX30V SZ-12 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX30V

 SZ-12 HX30V 
RevealedJanuary 2012February 2012Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with exterior 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 HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony HX30V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 and the HX30V.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and HX30V is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading technical specs. The pic here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and HX30V.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Sony HX30V to offer greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
45
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18MP)
offers face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Sony HX30V
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
decent megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX30V Landscape photography factors
40
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
50
focusing manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Sony HX30V Vlogging features
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-01-10 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 320 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $350 $420