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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r 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-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SH-50 was unveiled 23 months after the K-r making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SH-50 scores against the K-r in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 SH-50 K-r 
IntroducedJanuary 2013March 2011Newer by 23 months
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 K-r SH-50 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

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

 SH-50 K-r 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 comes with physical 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-r has specifications of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SH-50 vs the K-r.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and K-r is 88 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out specifications. The pic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and K-r.

To sum up, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SH-50 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus SH-50 will produce more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images more aggressively. The fresher SH-50 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-r Portrait photography highlights
44
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-50
Street photography with Pentax K-r
64
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (269 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-r Sports photography highlights
48
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
55
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-r Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competitors in class (269 grams)
boasts focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
47
built-in flash
low battery pack (470 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-50
Vlogging with Pentax K-r
34
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (269 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus SH-50Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SH-50 Pentax K-r
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-01-08 2011-03-11
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Prime II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
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 - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
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) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 598 gr (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 755
Other
Battery life - 470 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $300 $1,100