Olympus SP-565UZ vs Pentax Q-S1

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus SP-565UZ and Pentax Q-S1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SP-565UZ (10MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is very comparable but the SP-565UZ (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") feature different sensor size.

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The SP-565UZ was released 6 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-565UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SP-565UZ matches up versus the Q-S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-565UZ & Pentax Q-S1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-565UZ Gallery & Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SP-565UZ features physical dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Pentax Q-S1 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-565UZ and Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SP-565UZ and the Q-S1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-565UZ and Q-S1 is 72 and 92 respectively.

Normally, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements merely by going through specs. The visual underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-565UZ and Q-S1.

All in all, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-565UZ featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax Q-S1 will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older SP-565UZ will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.