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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 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
  • Announced January 2012
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and S950 (10MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 2 years later than the S950 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the S950 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony S950

 SZ-12 S950 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012February 2009Fresher by 36 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Olympus SZ-12

 S950 SZ-12 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony S950

 SZ-12 S950 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 offers outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony S950 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-12 and the S950.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and S950 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and S950.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Olympus SZ-12 to produce extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern SZ-12 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Sony S950 Portrait photography details
34
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
26
focusing manually
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
Sony S950 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography information
Sony S950 Sports photography information
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
24
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
Sony S950 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
50
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Sony S950 Landscape photography advice
40
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
31
focusing manually
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Sony S950 Vlogging features
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony S950
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $350 $130