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Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
65
Imaging
32
Features
39
Overall
34
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Canon SX10 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 600g - 128 x 88 x 87mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Updated by Canon SX20 IS
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
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Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Canon SX10 IS and Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the SX10 IS (10MP) and RZ18 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX10 IS was announced 3 years prior to the RZ18 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SX10 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the SX10 IS grades versus the RZ18 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX10 IS over the Pentax RZ18

 SX10 IS RZ18 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Canon SX10 IS

 RZ18 SX10 IS 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2009More recent by 32 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX10 IS and Pentax RZ18

 SX10 IS RZ18 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX10 IS enjoys outer dimensions of 128mm x 88mm x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") along with a weight of 600 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX10 IS and Pentax RZ18 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SX10 IS versus the RZ18.

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX10 IS and RZ18 is 65 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX10 IS and RZ18.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Pentax RZ18 to deliver extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older SX10 IS is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX10 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax RZ18
39
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
provides face detection autofocus
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
36
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX10 IS as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
49
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (600g)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than competition (178 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX10 IS
Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
32
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
46
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX10 IS Travel photography information
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography information
52
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (600g)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than competition (178 grams)
weather sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX10 IS
Landscape photography with Pentax RZ18
34
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
49
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX10 IS
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
52
decently wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (600 grams)
30
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Canon SX10 IS vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX10 IS and Pentax RZ18
 Canon PowerShot SX10 ISPentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-15 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD 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 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 0cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.20 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 600 gr (1.32 lbs) 178 gr (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 128 x 88 x 87mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 3.4") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec or custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $275 $210