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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III 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
  • Introduced January 2012
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Successor is Sony RX100 IV
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX100 III, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and RX100 III (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and RX100 III (1") have different sensor size.

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The SZ-12 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the RX100 III and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-12 grades versus the RX100 III for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 SZ-12 RX100 III 

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

 RX100 III SZ-12 
RevealedMay 2014January 2012More recent by 28 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 SZ-12 RX100 III 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony RX100 III has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX100 III in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 against the RX100 III.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and RX100 III is 89 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and RX100 III.

Plainly, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony RX100 III will deliver extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography features
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
64
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
Sony RX100 III Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Sony RX100 III Sports photography info
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
Sony RX100 III Travel photography advice
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
85
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography information
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery (220 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
73
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Sony RX100 III Vlogging details
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
80
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
lack of mic jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX100 III
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2014-05-15
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 290g (0.64 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 495
Other
Battery life 220 photos 320 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $350 $748