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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 front
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
26
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 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 W830
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony W830, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and W830 (20MP) but both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was introduced 24 months earlier than the W830 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony W830 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-12 scores against the W830 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony W830

 SZ-12 W830 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W830 over the Olympus SZ-12

 W830 SZ-12 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014January 2012More modern by 24 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W830

 SZ-12 W830 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 has exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony W830 has dimensions of 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Sony W830 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 against the W830.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and W830 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by checking out specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and W830.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony W830 to produce more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Sony W830
33
resolution is good (14MP)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
38
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
Sony W830 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Sony W830 Sports photography features
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Sony W830
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
Sony W830 Landscape photography info
40
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
41
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Sony W830 Vlogging highlights
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
32
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony W830 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony W830
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2012-01-10 2014-01-07
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.3
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 2.80 m (with ISO auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
External flash
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 122g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 93 x 52 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $350 $128