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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Announced January 2012
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) provide different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-12 was introduced 13 months before the RX1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ-12 scores vs the RX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony RX1

 SZ-12 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 RX1 SZ-12 
RevealedFebruary 2013January 2012More modern by 13 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen resolution1229k460kCrisper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX1

 SZ-12 RX1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with exterior 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) while the Sony RX1 has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 versus the RX1.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and RX1 is 89 and 79 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The pic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and RX1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony RX1 will offer you more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
82
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Sports photography camera
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
53
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (270 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography information
Sony RX1 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
62
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (270 shots)
heavier than average (482 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography factors
Sony RX1 Landscape photography factors
40
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
65
you can focus manually
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
low battery power (270 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
34
good max aperture (f2.0)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (482g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX1
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2013-02-19
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35mm (1x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0-22.0
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/4000s
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, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 482 grams (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life 220 photos 270 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $350 $2,798