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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony WX350
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and WX500 (18MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was revealed 4 years earlier than the WX500 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the SZ-12 scores versus the WX500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony WX500

 SZ-12 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus SZ-12

 WX500 SZ-12 
AnnouncedApril 2015January 2012More modern by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX500

 SZ-12 WX500 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 has got external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-12 and the WX500.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and WX500 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by checking technical specs. The image below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and WX500.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You should anticipate the Sony WX500 to give greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX500 Portrait photography highlights
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
39
good MP (18MP)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography information
Sony WX500 Street photography information
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (360 shots)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography features
Sony WX500 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
better than average battery pack (360 per charge)
lighter than competition (236g)
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
40
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging details
Sony WX500 Vlogging details
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
35
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony WX500
 Olympus SZ-12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-01-10 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 gr (0.50 pounds) 236 gr (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 photographs 360 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $350 $348