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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and WX1 (10MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and WX1 (1/2.4") come with different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-12 was released 2 years after the WX1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SZ-12 grades vs the WX1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony WX1

 SZ-12 WX1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012August 2009More modern by 30 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 WX1 SZ-12 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX1

 SZ-12 WX1 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 features physical 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 WX1 has proportions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") and a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 and the WX1.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and WX1 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading technical specs. The image here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and WX1.

As you can tell, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus SZ-12 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The newer SZ-12 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Sony WX1
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
19
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competitors (149 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX1 Sports photography highlights
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Sony WX1 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery life (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (149g)
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Sony WX1 Landscape photography information
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery life (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
31
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
Sony WX1 Vlogging information
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
28
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
more heavy than competitors (149 grams)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX1
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
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) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 149 grams (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
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 pictures -
Style 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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $350 $149