Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was launched 2 years after the RZ18 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-M1 grades vs the RZ18 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & Pentax Optio RZ18. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 Gallery & Pentax RZ18 Gallery.

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 features exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the RZ18.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and RZ18 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The image underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and RZ18.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M1 features the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The more modern E-M1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.