Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") possess totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-12 was manufactured 6 years before the RX10 IV which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SZ-12 scores vs the RX10 IV when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-12 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Sony RX10 IV Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony RX10 IV has measurements of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") and a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the RX10 IV.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and RX10 IV is 89 and 52 respectively.

Generally, its tough to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The image below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and RX10 IV.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony RX10 IV will offer greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.