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Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
79
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Olympus SP-610UZ front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66
Imaging
41
Features
37
Overall
39

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 Key Specs

Olympus SP-610UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-616mm (F3.3-5.7) lens
  • 405g - 107 x 73 x 73mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-600 UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-620 UZ
Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Introduced July 2014
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Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus SP-610UZ versus Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SP-610UZ (14MP) and the XG-1 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-610UZ was brought out 4 years prior to the XG-1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-610UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SP-610UZ scores against the XG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-610UZ over the Pentax XG-1

 SP-610UZ XG-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Olympus SP-610UZ

 XG-1 SP-610UZ 
IntroducedJuly 2014January 2011More modern by 42 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-610UZ and Pentax XG-1

 SP-610UZ XG-1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SP-610UZ features physical measurements of 107mm x 73mm x 73mm (4.2" x 2.9" x 2.9") along with a weight of 405 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Pentax XG-1 has specifications of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") accompanied by a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-610UZ versus Pentax XG-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SP-610UZ versus the XG-1.

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SP-610UZ and XG-1 is 79 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The pic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-610UZ and XG-1.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Pentax XG-1 to produce more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SP-610UZ will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ Portrait photography advice
Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography advice
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
40
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ Street photography advice
Pentax XG-1 Street photography advice
50
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competition (567 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-610UZ
Sports photography with Pentax XG-1
39
great zoom range (28-616mm 22.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
45
great zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-610UZ
Travel photography with Pentax XG-1
61
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
very long reach (616mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
52
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (1248mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
heavier than competition (567 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
40
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
45
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ Vlogging highlights
Pentax XG-1 Vlogging highlights
26
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
25
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition (567g)
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Olympus SP-610UZ vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-610UZ and Pentax XG-1
 Olympus SP-610UZPentax XG-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SP-610UZ Pentax XG-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-01-06 2014-07-15
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-616mm (22.0x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.7 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dot
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 405 gr (0.89 pounds) 567 gr (1.25 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 73 x 73mm (4.2" x 2.9" x 2.9") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
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 340 pictures 240 pictures
Battery form AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $299 $599