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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced January 2013
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-x, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

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The SH-50 was announced 3 years after the K-x which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the SH-50 scores versus the K-x with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SH-50 K-x 
RevealedJanuary 2013December 2009More modern by 38 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 K-x SH-50 

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

 SH-50 K-x 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 enjoys exterior dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has specifications of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-x in the new Camera and 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 have chosen at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SH-50 and the K-x.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

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

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

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The image below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and K-x.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-50 having a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Olympus SH-50 will offer you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher SH-50 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Portrait photography camera
44
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-x Street photography highlights
64
image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
lighter than average in class (269 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography details
Pentax K-x Sports photography details
48
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
61
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (1,900 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-x Travel photography factors
69
lighter than average in class (269g)
offers touch focus
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
54
great battery life (1,900 CIPA)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-x Landscape photography information
49
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,900 CIPA)
screen is small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging features
Pentax K-x Vlogging features
34
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (269g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic support
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K-x
 Olympus SH-50Pentax K-x
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SH-50 Pentax K-x
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-01-08 2009-12-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Prime
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 16.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 580 gr (1.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 811
Other
Battery life - 1900 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $300 $600