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Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
59
Features
66
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 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
  • Introduced January 2012
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced September 2016
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Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 Overview

Following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-12 and YI M1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and YI. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-12 (14MP) and M1 (20MP) and the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and M1 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-12 was announced 5 years prior to the M1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the YI M1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the M1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the YI M1

 SZ-12 M1 

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 M1 SZ-12 
IntroducedSeptember 2016January 2012More modern by 57 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and YI M1

 SZ-12 M1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 provides external measurements 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 YI M1 has specifications of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-12 and YI M1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 against the M1.

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and M1 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and M1.

Clearly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the YI M1 will offer you extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
YI M1 Portrait photography highlights
33
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography highlights
YI M1 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
73
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with YI M1
40
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
54
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (450 shots)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
YI M1 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
78
better than average battery life (450 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
resolution is good (20MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
YI M1 as a Landscape photography camera
40
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (450 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with YI M1
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
33
built-in touchscreen
supports face detection focus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-12 vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and YI M1
 Olympus SZ-12YI M1
General Information
Company Olympus YI
Model type Olympus SZ-12 YI M1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-01-10 2016-09-19
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 81
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 350g (0.77 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 450 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $350 $320