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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Released January 2013
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax RS1500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively close and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was brought out 23 months after the RS1500 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SH-50 grades against the RS1500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Pentax RS1500

 SH-50 RS1500 
RevealedJanuary 2013March 2011Newer by 23 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus SH-50

 RS1500 SH-50 

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax RS1500

 SH-50 RS1500 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-50 comes with exterior dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-50 and Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SH-50 versus the RS1500.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SH-50 and RS1500 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-50 and RS1500.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus SH-50 to provide you with greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer SH-50 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography details
Pentax RS1500 Street photography details
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than average (269 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography factors
48
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than average (269g)
provides touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
environment sealing
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
49
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
40
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (269 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
25
fairly wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus SH-50Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SH-50 Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-01-08 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $300 $150