Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax P70

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus FE-45 and Pentax P70, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the FE-45 (10MP) and the P70 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was unveiled around the same time to the P70 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus FE-45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the FE-45 matches up versus the P70 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus FE-45 and Pentax Optio P70. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-45 Gallery and Pentax P70 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-45 comes with outer dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Pentax P70 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus FE-45 and Pentax P70 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the FE-45 against the P70.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-45 and P70 is 95 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The graphic below should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-45 and P70.

All in all, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax P70 to give greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively.