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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 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 W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the W550 (14MP) is relatively close and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was brought out 6 months after the W550 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the W550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony W550

 SZ-12 W550 
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus SZ-12

 W550 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W550

 SZ-12 W550 
RevealedJanuary 2012July 2011Same age
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys exterior 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 W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W550 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the W550.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and W550 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through specifications. The picture underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and W550.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same MP and you can expect comparable quality of pictures however you will need to factor the age of the cameras into account.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Sony W550
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
28
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography information
Sony W550 Street photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography advice
Sony W550 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
65
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Sony W550 Landscape photography advice
40
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
42
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Sony W550
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than average (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
29
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W550
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2012-01-10 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 110 grams (0.24 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One -
Retail pricing $350 $119