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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-S2
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-S1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the K-S1 (20MP) is fairly similar but the SH-50 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The SH-50 was brought out 19 months before the K-S1 making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SH-50 matches up against the K-S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Pentax K-S1

 SH-50 K-S1 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus SH-50

 K-S1 SH-50 
AnnouncedAugust 2014January 2013More recent by 19 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-S1

 SH-50 K-S1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-50 has outer dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-S1 has measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-S1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SH-50 vs the K-S1.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and K-S1 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The visual here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and K-S1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SH-50 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-S1 will offer you extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older SH-50 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
77
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography details
Pentax K-S1 Street photography details
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (269 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (558g)
above average ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography information
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography information
48
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
69
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition in class (269 grams)
provides focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
lighter than average in class (558 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography advice
49
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
not so great battery (410 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (269 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic port
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (558g)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic socket
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus SH-50Pentax K-S1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SH-50 Pentax K-S1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2013-01-08 2014-08-27
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Prime MII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames per second 5.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 558g (1.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1061
Other
Battery life - 410 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $300 $339