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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus SH-2
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic FS12, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was announced 6 years later than the FS12 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the SH-3 matches up vs the FS12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic FS12

 SH-3 FS12 
IntroducedFebruary 2016April 2009Fresher by 83 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus SH-3

 FS12 SH-3 

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FS12

 SH-3 FS12 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-3 enjoys external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic FS12 has proportions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic FS12 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the SH-3 versus the FS12.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and FS12 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-3 and FS12.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus SH-3 to give you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer SH-3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography features
44
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
21
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography features
Panasonic FS12 Street photography features
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
provides touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography factors
74
great battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
provides touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
55
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
28
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging features
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging features
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2016-02-08 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 129g (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 380 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $579 $228