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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610 front
Portability
97
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 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
  • Launched January 2012
Sony W610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 113g - 93 x 52 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 Overview

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the W610 (14MP) is fairly similar and they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was unveiled at a similar time to the W610 which means that they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SZ-12 matches up against the W610 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony W610

 SZ-12 W610 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W610 over the Olympus SZ-12

 W610 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W610

 SZ-12 W610 
RevealedJanuary 2012January 2012Similar age
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 provides exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony W610 has sizing of 93mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-12 against the W610.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and W610 is 89 and 97 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over specifications. The visual here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and W610.

Plainly, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of pictures although you might want to take the launch date of the products into consideration.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Sony W610 Portrait photography highlights
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Sony W610
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
56
lighter than competition (113 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Sony W610 Sports photography info
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Sony W610
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition (113 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W610 as a Landscape photography camera
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
33
rather wide (26mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W610 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
28
rather wide (26mm)
lighter than competition (113g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W610 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W610
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-10 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-105mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 113g (0.25 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 93 x 52 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BN
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, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $350 $200