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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX90V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and HX90V (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was released 4 years prior to the HX90V and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summary of how the SZ-12 matches up against the HX90V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony HX90V

 SZ-12 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Olympus SZ-12

 HX90V SZ-12 
ReleasedApril 2015January 2012More recent by 39 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX90V

 SZ-12 HX90V 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 offers 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 HX90V has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX90V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SZ-12 and the HX90V.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and HX90V is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to see the difference in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and HX90V.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Sony HX90V to produce more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX90V Portrait photography factors
33
resolution is good (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
45
has manual focus
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Sony HX90V Sports photography features
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery pack (360 per charge)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Sony HX90V
65
lighter than competition (226g)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
76
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
decent MP (18MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Sony HX90V
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
53
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging advice
Sony HX90V Vlogging advice
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
75
really wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of mic socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony HX90V
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-10 2015-04-14
Physical type 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 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type 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 range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
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, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 245g (0.54 lbs)
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 Overall 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 360 photos
Style 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $350 $440