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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 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 HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched March 2016
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX80, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and HX80 (18MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 5 years before the HX80 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SZ-12 scores versus the HX80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony HX80

 SZ-12 HX80 

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Olympus SZ-12

 HX80 SZ-12 
LaunchedMarch 2016January 2012More modern by 50 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX80

 SZ-12 HX80 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 has outside 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 HX80 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX80 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 against the HX80.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and HX80 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The pic here may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and HX80.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Sony HX80 to give you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Portrait photography camera
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features face detect focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
39
good MP (18MP)
offers face detect focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
Sony HX80 Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
70
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Sony HX80
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (390 CIPA)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
76
better than average battery power (390 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
good MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Sony HX80
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery (220 shots)
no Time Lapse function
49
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
better than average battery power (390 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
Sony HX80 Vlogging information
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
75
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX80
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-10 2016-03-07
Body design Compact Compact
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 245 gr (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 photos 390 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $350 $368