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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was unveiled 3 years after the FS12 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SZ-16 iHS grades against the FS12 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic FS12

 SZ-16 iHS FS12 
LaunchedJanuary 2013April 2009Newer by 46 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 FS12 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FS12

 SZ-16 iHS FS12 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS provides physical measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FS12 has specifications of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-16 iHS compared to the FS12.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and FS12 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions only by checking out specs. The image underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-16 iHS and FS12.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to provide greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The fresher SZ-16 iHS provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography information
35
good MP (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
21
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography features
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2013-01-08 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 129 grams (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" 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 photos -
Form 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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $230 $228