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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100
  • Refreshed by Sony RX100 III
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX100 II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and RX100 II (1") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was announced 17 months earlier than the RX100 II which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-12 matches up against the RX100 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony RX100 II

 SZ-12 RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Olympus SZ-12

 RX100 II SZ-12 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2012More recent by 17 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX100 II

 SZ-12 RX100 II 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 provides 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 RX100 II has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX100 II in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 versus the RX100 II.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and RX100 II is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by reading through technical specs. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and RX100 II.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony RX100 II will give you extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
70
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Sony RX100 II Sports photography highlights
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
provides tracking focus
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
Sony RX100 II Travel photography info
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
80
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (281g)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 II Landscape photography information
40
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery (220 per charge)
no Timelapse function
74
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 II as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than others in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
37
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (281 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX100 II
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-10 2013-06-27
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias 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 80 160
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 281g (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 483
Other
Battery life 220 images 350 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $350 $598