Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax K10D

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K10D, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and K10D (10MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and K10D (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SH-50 was brought out 6 years later than the K10D and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K10D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief view of how the SH-50 scores versus the K10D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SH-50 & Pentax K10D. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-50 Gallery & Pentax K10D Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-50 features outside measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K10D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax K10D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SH-50 vs the K10D.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and K10D is 88 and 59 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizing only by reviewing specifications. The photograph below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-50 and K10D.

To sum up, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SH-50 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Olympus SH-50 will offer extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more recent SH-50 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.