Olympus SZ-12 Review

By:

Review posted 07/11/2012

Quick Take
Pros
  • Powerful 24x (25mm - 600mm) zoom lens
  • Dedicated movie record button
  • Accurate exposures
  • Records high-definition video
  • Zoom operates during video recording
  • Fast high-speed burst modes
  • Controls are small but well placed
  • Sensor-shift anti-shake
  • Helpful guide system with dedicated button
Cons
  • Auto focus could be better
  • Photos in low light tend to be blurry
  • Thumb wheel navigation can be clumsy
  • Slow burst mode at full resolution
Bottom Line
The lens on this compact super-zoom offers a lot of power, though the camera's autofocus is sometimes sluggish, and photos taken in low light tend to come out blurry. That said, the SZ-12 has a lot to offer for under $200. Read more in our Full Conclusion.
The Olympus SZ-12 is a budget friendly Super Zoom camera that retaisl for less than $200 -- in your choice of silver, black, or red. Designed to fit snugly into your hand thanks to its "Smart Grip" aluminum body design, this stylish camera boasts a whopping 24x optical zoom, which is the 35mm equivalent of 25-600mm. There's also a Telephoto Macro setting so that you can use the lens not only for long distances, but for tiny objects. The Dual Image Stabilization is a must have safeguard when at full zoom.

The SZ-12 also features a 14-megapixel CCD image sensor capable of recording 720p HD video and high-speed sequential shooting at various resolutions. Ten Magic Filters are built-in to spruce up even the blandest still image and thanks to the camera's built in Eye-Fi capabilities, loading your images and videos to your computer and/or social networking media sites is a snap with an optional Eye-Fi SD card. The HDMI out means you can connect the SZ-12 directly to your big screen to watch your HD movies and/or a photo montage of your high resolution still images; optional HDMI cable is required.

Olympus SZ-12 Features:
  • 24x Optical Zoom (25-600mm)
  • 14 megapixel resolution
  • 3.0" LCD display (460k dots)
  • Smart Grip body
  • 720p HD Video
  • High-speed sequential shooting
  • Dual Image Stabilization
  • Telephoto Macro mode
  • Ten Magic Art Filters
  • SD card slot for SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; Eye-Fi Compatible
  • HDMI out (cable sold separately)
  • Li-ion rechargeable battery

The Olympus SZ-12 is available now with a suggested retail price of $199 USD. You can choose from three stylish colors: Red, Black, and Silver.


What's in the box?:

  • SZ-12 Digital Camera
  • USB Cable & Charger (F-2AC)
  • Instruction Manual & Software CD
  • Audio/Video Cable
  • Strap
  • Lithium-Ion Battery



Additional Product Views:

SZ-12_SLV_RIGHT.jpg
SZ-12_BLK_RIGHT.jpg
SZ-12_RED_LEFT.jpg
SZ-12_SLV_FRONT.jpg

Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.