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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R 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 RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Updated by Sony RX1R II
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and RX1R (Full frame) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 17 months earlier than the RX1R which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SZ-12 matches up against the RX1R with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony RX1R

 SZ-12 RX1R 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Olympus SZ-12

 RX1R SZ-12 
RevealedJune 2013January 2012Newer by 17 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen resolution1229k460kCrisper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX1R

 SZ-12 RX1R 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 features outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony RX1R has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 against the RX1R.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and RX1R is 89 and 79 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specifications. The picture underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and RX1R.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-12 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony RX1R will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography information
Sony RX1R Portrait photography information
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
82
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
Sony RX1R Street photography factors
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
66
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
very good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Sony RX1R Sports photography information
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
53
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery power (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
62
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
built-in flash
very good max aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse function
bad battery pack (270 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (482 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
Sony RX1R Landscape photography details
40
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery power (220 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
66
has manual focus
very good max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging factors
Sony RX1R Vlogging factors
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
34
very good max aperture (f2.0)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (482g)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony RX1R
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2013-06-26
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/4000s
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, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 482 gr (1.06 pounds)
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 Overall score not tested 91
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 2537
Other
Battery life 220 photos 270 photos
Type of battery 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)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $350 $2,798