Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W710

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony W710, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the W710 (16MP) is pretty well matched and they use the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 12 months before the W710 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SZ-12 scores against the W710 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery and Sony W710 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony W710 has dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 114 grams (0.25 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony W710 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the W710.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and W710 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Generally, its hard to see the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at specs. The graphic underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and W710.

All in all, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony W710 to give greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.