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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Launched January 2014
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 SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic FS12, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-100 was manufactured 4 years after the FS12 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SP-100 grades versus the FS12 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Panasonic FS12

 SP-100 FS12 
LaunchedJanuary 2014April 2009Newer by 59 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus SP-100

 FS12 SP-100 

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic FS12

 SP-100 FS12 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-100 enjoys outer measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") along with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS12 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic FS12 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SP-100 vs the FS12.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-100 and FS12 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching a spec sheet. The image here will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-100 and FS12.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SP-100 to result in extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The younger SP-100 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography highlights
44
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
supports face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Street photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competition (594 grams)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Sports photography information
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography information
53
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
53
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (594g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
28
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging factors
29
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
does not have selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition (594g)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2014-01-29 2009-04-17
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920 thousand dots -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 594 grams (1.31 pounds) 129 grams (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 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 330 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $228