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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
53
Features
82
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Launched September 2017
  • Old Model is Sony RX10 III
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony RX10 IV

 SZ-12 RX10 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Olympus SZ-12

 RX10 IV SZ-12 
LaunchedSeptember 2017January 2012More modern by 69 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k460kClearer screen (+980k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX10 IV

 SZ-12 RX10 IV 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

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

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography highlights
33
decent MP (14MP)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
71
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
Sony RX10 IV Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
64
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
supports touch focus
environment proof
heavier than competitors in class (1,095 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Sony RX10 IV
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
76
long zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average (226g)
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery power (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
supports touch focus
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (1,095g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Sony RX10 IV Landscape photography details
40
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
62
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
environment proof
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Sony RX10 IV Vlogging features
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than average (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
29
relatively wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic support
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
does not have a selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors in class (1,095 grams)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX10 IV
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-01-10 2017-09-12
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 315
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focus range - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 24.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 1095g (2.41 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
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 photographs 400 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $350 $1,698