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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
89 Imaging
37 Features
36 Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92 Imaging
39 Features
37 Overall
38

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V 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
  • Announced January 2012
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX7V, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is fairly similar and they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 6 months later than the HX7V and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ-12 grades against the HX7V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony HX7V

		

		

			
 SZ-12 HX7V 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus SZ-12

		

		

			
 HX7V SZ-12 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX7V

		

		

			
 SZ-12 HX7V 
RevealedJanuary 2012July 2011Similar age
Manually focus  No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen  Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display  Neither includes Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 features outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony HX7V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).
Check out the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX7V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the HX7V.
Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V size comparison
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and HX7V is 89 and 92 respectively.
Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Typically, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and HX7V.
As you can see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX7V to deliver greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively.
	
			Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX7V Portrait photography advice
33
 megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
 features face detection autofocus
 no manual focus
 no manual control
 cannot use external flash
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
30
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 focusing manually not possible
 manual exposure not available
 can't use external flash
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
Sony HX7V Street photography details
60
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
 screen does not articulate
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
56
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 screen does not articulate
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography advice
Sony HX7V Sports photography advice
40
 long zoom range (25-600mm  24.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
 features tracking autofocus
 slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 bad battery pack (220 shots)
 doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary
Travel Comparison
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Sony HX7V Travel photography features
65
 lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
 megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
 built-in flash
 quite wide (25mm)
 long reach (600mm)
 lack of Time Lapse function
 bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
 display is not selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
67
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 decently wide (25mm)
 long zoom (250mm)
 no Timelapse mode
 display isn't selfie friendly
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Sony HX7V
40
 quite wide (25mm)
 screen is a good size (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
 no manual focus
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
 no manual control
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW files
 bad battery pack (220 per charge)
 lack of Time Lapse function
42
 decently wide (25mm)
 pretty good screen size (3")
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 focusing manually not possible
 cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
 manual exposure not available
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW support
 no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Sony HX7V Vlogging features
31
 quite wide (25mm)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features face detection autofocus
 lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
 display is not selfie friendly
 video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
 lack of external mic jack
32
 decently wide (25mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 no microphone support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and  16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW data    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
Touch focus    
Continuous AF    
Single AF    
Tracking AF    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detect AF    
Contract detect AF    
Phase detect 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
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch operation    
Display tech TFT Color LCD XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Change WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range - 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support    
Headphone support    
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 208 gr (0.46 lbs)
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 images -
Type 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, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $350 $499