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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced June 2010
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was brought out 20 months later than the HX5 making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SZ-12 grades versus the HX5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony HX5

 SZ-12 HX5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012June 2010More recent by 20 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 HX5 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX5

 SZ-12 HX5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony HX5 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 and the HX5.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and HX5 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and HX5.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus SZ-12 will offer greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SZ-12 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX5 Portrait photography factors
33
good resolution (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
19
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography highlights
Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
provides tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery (220 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
37
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Sony HX5 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX5
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 200g (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" 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 pictures -
Form 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
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $350 $275