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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 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
  • Released January 2012
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Revealed July 2010
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is pretty similar and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was launched 19 months after the WX5 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the WX5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony WX5

 SZ-12 WX5 
RevealedJanuary 2012July 2010More modern by 19 months
Screen dimensions3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Olympus SZ-12

 WX5 SZ-12 
Screen resolution461k460kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX5

 SZ-12 WX5 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 has got external 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 WX5 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 versus the WX5.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and WX5 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The image here will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and WX5.

All in all, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-12 to offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger SZ-12 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX5 Portrait photography highlights
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography details
Sony WX5 Sports photography details
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
58
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography information
Sony WX5 Landscape photography information
40
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (2.8 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging highlights
Sony WX5 Vlogging highlights
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX5
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-10 2010-07-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.8 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 146 grams (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $350 $250