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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V 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 HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Launched February 2014
  • Old Model is Sony HX300
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony HX400V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and HX400V (20MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was revealed 3 years before the HX400V which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the HX400V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony HX400V

 SZ-12 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Olympus SZ-12

 HX400V SZ-12 
LaunchedFebruary 2014January 2012More modern by 25 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX400V

 SZ-12 HX400V 
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 features outside measurements 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 HX400V has proportions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony HX400V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-12 against the HX400V.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and HX400V is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching specifications. The pic underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and HX400V.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony HX400V to render extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Sony HX400V
34
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
51
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than competition (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography factors
Sony HX400V Sports photography factors
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX400V Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
53
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (660 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Landscape photography camera
40
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery life (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX400V Vlogging highlights
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
29
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic jack
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (660g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX400V
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-10 2014-02-12
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus range - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 660 grams (1.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
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 300 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $350 $448