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Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Also Known as X-935
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Olympus FE-5020 versus Pentax RZ18, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the FE-5020 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FE-5020 was launched 3 years prior to the RZ18 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the FE-5020 scores against the RZ18 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Pentax RZ18

 FE-5020 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus FE-5020

 RZ18 FE-5020 
RevealedSeptember 2011July 2009Fresher by 26 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Pentax RZ18

 FE-5020 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5020 provides exterior dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus FE-5020 versus Pentax RZ18 in the latest 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 using at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FE-5020 and the RZ18.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-5020 and RZ18 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by checking specs. The graphic here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FE-5020 and RZ18.

All in all, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should expect to see the Pentax RZ18 to give you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older FE-5020 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
21
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
36
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
60
weather proofing
lighter than competitors in class (137g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competitors (178 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography details
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography details
24
weather proofing
max shutter speed is low (1/500s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Travel photography details
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competitors in class (137g)
weather proofing
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
71
lighter than competitors (178g)
environment proof
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography details
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography details
31
quite wide (24mm)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (24mm)
lighter than competitors in class (137 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (178g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus FE-5020Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus FE-5020 Pentax Optio RZ18
Otherwise known as X-935 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-07-22 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/500s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 137 grams (0.30 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 ID LI-42B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $160 $210