Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55
89 Imaging
37 Features
36 Overall
36
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67 Imaging
56 Features
80 Overall
65
Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55 Key Specs
(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
- Launched January 2012
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
- Revealed August 2010
- Renewed by Sony A57
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55 Overview
Here, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A55, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.
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The SZ-12 was released 17 months after the A55 making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SZ-12 matches up vs the A55 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-12 and Sony SLT-A55. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Sony A55
SZ-12 | A55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | January 2012 | ![]() | August 2010 | More modern by 17 months |
Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus SZ-12
A55 | SZ-12 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very exact focusing | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+461k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A55
SZ-12 | A55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurements |
Touch display | ![]() | Neither contains Touch display |
Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison
For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has got outer 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) whilst the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).
Check the Olympus SZ-12 and Sony A55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 and the A55.
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Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and A55 is 89 and 67 respectively.
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through technical specs. The image here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-12 and A55.
As you can tell, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A55 will produce more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern SZ-12 provides a benefit in sensor tech.
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Sony A55 Specifications
Olympus SZ-12 | Sony SLT-A55 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus SZ-12 | Sony SLT-A55 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Launched | 2012-01-10 | 2010-08-24 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | - | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 4912 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 12800 |
Max boosted ISO | - | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 15 |
Cross focus points | - | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 25-600mm (24.0x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/3.0-6.9 | - |
Total lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Screen diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Screen resolution | 460k dots | 921k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Screen technology | TFT Color LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,150k dots |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1700 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | - | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | - | 1/160 secs |
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 226 gr (0.50 lbs) | 500 gr (1.10 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") | 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | 73 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 23.0 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 12.4 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 816 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 220 pictures | 380 pictures |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | LI-50B | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Launch pricing | $350 | $800 |