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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31
Olympus SP-600 UZ front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Olympus SP-600 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-420mm (F3.5-5.4) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Launched February 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-590 UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-610UZ
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-S2
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Pentax K-S1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the SP-600 UZ (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the SP-600 UZ (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The SP-600 UZ was manufactured 5 years prior to the K-S1 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-600 UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SP-600 UZ scores against the K-S1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-600 UZ over the Pentax K-S1

 SP-600 UZ K-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus SP-600 UZ

 K-S1 SP-600 UZ 
RevealedAugust 2014February 2010Newer by 55 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Pentax K-S1

 SP-600 UZ K-S1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-600 UZ has got outer measurements of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") along with a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) while the Pentax K-S1 has measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Pentax K-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the SP-600 UZ vs the K-S1.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-600 UZ and K-S1 is 69 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through a spec sheet. The image below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-600 UZ and K-S1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SP-600 UZ because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-S1 will give greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged SP-600 UZ is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
27
focusing manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
77
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-600 UZ
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
36
no moving screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (558g)
good high ISO (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Sports photography features
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography features
31
amazing zoom range (28-420mm 15.0 x zoom)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
bad battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very long reach (420mm)
no Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
lighter than competitors (558g)
good MP (20MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography factors
29
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse mode
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Vlogging advice
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging advice
20
fairly wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (558 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-600 UZ and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus SP-600 UZPentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SP-600 UZ Pentax K-S1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2010-02-02 2014-08-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Prime MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 143 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-420mm (15.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.4 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 1/2 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.10 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 455g (1.00 lbs) 558g (1.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1061
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $189 $339