Olympus SP-620 UZ vs Pentax Optio H90: A Detailed Comparison of Small-Sensor Compacts for the Discerning Photographer

When diving into the realm of compact, small-sensor cameras, it’s easy to overlook the subtle nuances that differentiate models released only a couple of years apart. The Olympus SP-620 UZ and the Pentax Optio H90 both occupy a similar niche, yet each brings distinct characteristics that create a compelling head-to-head battle. Having put both of these models through thorough hands-on testing, I’ve gathered insights that go beyond spec sheets - helping you understand which camera fits your photography style, workflow demands, and budget.

Both announced early last decade (Olympus in 2012, Pentax in 2010), these compacts herald some of the last generations before smartphone cameras firmly took over compact shooters’ territory. This review aims to dissect their design, image quality, handling, and performance across a wide range of photographic genres - from portraiture to wildlife - ensuring the most practical comparison for today’s enthusiasts or those hunting bargains.

Let’s get into the thick of it.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

Physically, these cameras couldn’t be more different in feel and footprint. The Olympus SP-620 UZ is a somewhat chunky “bridge” style compact designed to deliver long zoom reach without compromising handgrip comfort. In contrast, the Pentax H90 is an ultra-svelte, pocketable compact engineered for grab-and-go ease.

At 110x74x74 mm and weighing 435 grams (with batteries), the Olympus feels firmly planted in hand, thanks in part to its substantial grip housing four AA batteries - a common power source choice for superzoom cameras of the era. Meanwhile, the Pentax measures a mere 101x65x28 mm and weighs 153 grams with its proprietary D-LI68 lithium-ion battery, contributing to an overall featherweight and travel-friendly package.

The Olympus’s heft and size translate into a more robust option for extended handheld shooting. It has a confident grip and balance that complements its long 25-525mm (equivalent) zoom lens - a focal range covering everything from wide-angle landscape vistas to detailed wildlife shots without swapping lenses. The Pentax’s compact form lends itself better to street and travel photography, slipping unobtrusively into pockets and allowing for candid shooting without drawing much attention.

Ergonomically, the Olympus benefits from dedicated physical buttons and a somewhat intuitive control layout, critical for quick adjustments during active shooting. The Pentax, while minimalist, offers a surprisingly comfortable thumb rest on the back and a straightforward menu system. Neither has manual dials or exposure controls, signifying their place as fully automatic or semi-automatic tools.

The top controls reinforce these impressions. The SP-620 UZ provides a modest mode dial (including scene presets), zoom rocker, and a straightforward shutter release button, all logically spaced for usability. The H90’s top plate is more spartan, with fewer buttons and a simpler zoom lever, highlighting its design goal of point-and-shoot accessibility.

Overall, if you prize handling that supports longer shooting sessions, the Olympus will appeal more. For photographers prioritizing portability and discretion, the Pentax hits the mark.

Sensor and Image Quality: Analyzing the Heart of the Camera

Despite sharing the same sensor size - 1/2.3-inch CCD modules measuring 6.17x4.55mm - their sensor resolutions and image processing pipelines set the tone for their image quality differentiation.

The Olympus rocks a 16-megapixel sensor, pushing the boundaries of detail capture on such a small format and max native ISO of 3200. Its processor, Olympus’s TruePic III+, was designed to optimize sharpness and reduce noise, especially at base and mid-range ISOs. In field tests, daylight images reveal pleasing color accuracy and reasonable detail, though noise creep becomes noticeable beyond ISO 400 - typical behavior for small CCD sensors of this vintage.

Conversely, the Pentax H90 sports a 12-megapixel sensor with a max ISO pushing to 6400, a higher ceiling thanks to leaner resolution. Its Prime processor handles noise reduction aggressively, which softens images slightly but extends usable ISO range into dimmer conditions. Base ISO starts at 80, granting marginally finer tonal gradations in highlights and shadows - provided you expose carefully.

The trump card for Olympus in image quality is undoubtedly the higher resolution and longer zoom reach, which together enable more impactful cropping and framing flexibility. However, Pentax’s more conservative resolution and extra shutter speed range (up to 1/2000s) can better handle exposure with faster-moving subjects or when shooting in bright light at wide apertures.

Both cameras unfortunately lack RAW support, limiting post-processing latitude for photographers who enjoy manipulating files in Adobe Lightroom or Capture One. This is a crucial consideration for professionals but of less concern for casual shooters or travelers seeking immediate JPEG outputs.

LCD and User Interface: Your Window to Composition

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, a common compromise in compact models from this period, particularly in budget superzoom and small sensor classes. Hence, LCD quality and feedback become even more pivotal.

The SP-620 UZ sports a 3-inch, fixed TFT LCD with 230k dot resolution - a decent screen size for composing shots, reviewing images, and navigating menus. Brightness and color accuracy are acceptable in indoor and shaded outdoor scenarios, but the lack of anti-reflective coatings makes it tricky to see in direct sunlight.

The Pentax H90’s 2.7-inch display shares the same resolution but feels smaller, making it slightly more cumbersome for precision framing and image browsing. However, its screen's polarized coating manages glare better, improving outdoor visibility.

Both interfaces are straightforward, with intuitive menu layouts and quick access to fundamental settings, though the Olympus’s slightly bigger screen gives it an edge in usability during multi-shot reviews or scene mode selection.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Capturing the Moment

For photography enthusiasts, the autofocus system is a core pillar of satisfaction. Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus, standard for compact models lacking phase detection elements.

The Olympus touts face detection focus and contrast AF with multiple selectable focus areas, although manual focus adjustment isn’t available. Its continuous AF tracking is rudimentary and limited by the slower sensor readout, but suffices for casual portrait or street shooting. Shutter lag and focus acquisition times are reasonable - 0.5 to 1 second depending on zoom position - but may feel sluggish in low light or with complex contrastless scenes.

The Pentax features a nine-point autofocus system with the ability to select AF areas manually, offering more compositional freedom. It supports continuous AF tracking, which, while basic, performed better than Olympus’s system during my real-world tests of motion sequences. The minimum focus distance in macro mode, however, is less aggressive than Olympus - 10cm vs. 1cm - limiting close-up possibilities.

Continuous shooting speeds reflect the cameras' intended audience: Olympus lacks meaningful burst mode, while the Pentax offers a meager 1 frame per second - hardly rapid-fire but marginally better suited for action snapshots.

Diving into Genre-Specific Capabilities: How Do They Stack Up?

Portrait Photography

Portraying natural skin tones with pleasing bokeh effects challenges small-sensor compacts due to limited depth of field control and sensor limitations.

Olympus’s longer zoom and wider maximum aperture of f/3.1 allow a slightly shallower depth of field at telephoto focal lengths, enhancing subject isolation in portraits. Its face detection autofocus works reliably indoors and outdoors, helping keep eyes sharp in various lighting conditions. However, the small sensor size means background blur is never creamy, but rather soft and somewhat digital-looking.

Pentax lags here due to narrower aperture (max f/3.5) and lack of face detection AF. Its autofocus, while more flexible with selectable AF points, struggles with eye-level precision. Skin tones are handled well, though its JPG processing tends to soften images, muting contrast slightly.

Landscape Photography

Wide dynamic range and resolution are crucial for landscapes, especially when capturing varied light conditions and intricate natural detail.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ’s 16MP resolution gives it a clear advantage for cropping and large prints. Though its CCD sensor’s dynamic range is limited, shooting in bright daylight yields respectable detail retention. The 25mm equivalent wide end captures sweeping vistas effectively. Lack of weather sealing restricts rugged outdoor use, but as a casual hiker’s companion, it suffices.

The Pentax H90 shoots at a lower resolution but compensates somewhat with better ISO performance for overcast and dusk shooting. Its 28mm wide angle is slightly narrower. It doesn’t fare well with highlights retention due to JPEG-only output but produces natural color palettes.

Neither camera offers in-body focus stacking or bracketing, limiting post-production HDR exposures for demanding landscape photographers.

Wildlife Photography

Here the Olympus shines with its monster 525mm superzoom - a huge advantage in bringing distant subjects close without teleconverters or specialized lenses. This focal length range is rare outside interchangeable lens systems and is a highlight feature for casual wildlife photographers.

Autofocus performance is acceptable for stationary subjects but laggy on moving animals. The Olympus’s image stabilization helps handheld shots at long focal lengths, but shutter lag hampers capturing erratic wildlife behavior.

Pentax’s maximum focal length of 140mm makes it unsuitable for detailed wildlife capture beyond squirrels or backyard birds. Its more responsive autofocus tracks less distant action better but limited zoom constrains framing options.

Sports Photography

Both cameras are strictly entry-level for sports but differ slightly.

Olympus is handicapped by the lack of burst shooting, so missed moments are frequent. Autofocus doesn’t track fast action well, and shutter speeds top out at 1/1500s, adequate in some daylight but not for freezing high-speed sports.

Pentax offers a somewhat faster maximum shutter speed of 1/2000s and continuous shooting at 1fps, still modest but preferable for casual sports. Its AF system’s slight edge in tracking is beneficial but still falls short against modern mirrorless cameras.

Street Photography

Portability and discretion weigh heavily in this genre.

Pentax H90’s pocket-friendly stature and lighter weight make it a natural choice for urban roaming. Its quieter shutter and smaller size reduce attention when snapping candid moments.

Olympus’s bulkier design and louder mechanics render it less suitable for discreet shooting. Still, the extensive zoom range enables opportunistic framing from a distance.

Macro Photography

Here the Olympus again outperforms thanks to its minimum 1cm macro focusing distance - allowing startlingly close images of textures, insects, and flowers without external accessories.

Pentax’s 10cm macro minimum limits extreme close-ups but still suffices for casual florals or product shots. Neither camera offers focus stacking or advanced macro features, keeping macro strictly a casual affair.

Night and Astro Photography

CCD sensors often struggle in low light with noise and limited ISO ranges.

Olympus’s max native ISO 3200 allows some night shooting, but images become noisy quickly. Lack of RAW means noise reduction is baked in with little user control.

Pentax pushes ISO to 6400, but aggressive noise reduction severely softens images in near-darkness. Both cameras lack dedicated astro modes, intervalometers, or bulb modes, making long exposure astrophotography cumbersome.

Video Capabilities

Video on these compacts is basic:

Olympus records up to 720p at 30fps in MPEG-4/H.264 - a decent standard definition for casual clips but woefully dated by today’s standards. No external mic input restricts audio quality.

Pentax also maxes at 720p but uses Motion JPEG format, less efficient and resulting in larger files. No HDMI port means limited external monitoring.

Neither camera provides 4K photo modes or sophisticated stabilization for video.

Travel Photography

Considering travel requires weighing size, battery life, and versatility.

Pentax H90’s light weight and slim profile make it a stellar travel companion for quick strolls and urban sightseeing. Its less powerful zoom lens encourages creative framing over technical reach.

Olympus’s expansive zoom range and more substantial body suit travelers seeking “all-in-one” solutions to cover wide landscapes, architecture, wildlife, and occasional portraits. Battery swapping convenience (AA vs. proprietary) is a plus in remote areas.

Build Quality, Durability, and Environmental Resistance

Both feature plastic construction with limited environmental sealing. Neither is weatherproof, dustproof, or shock resistant, so users must exercise caution outdoors.

The Olympus’s larger grip and physical buttons suggest a slightly more robust construction, but this is still a budget-grade design.

Pentax’s glossy finish looks and feels less durable, though it passes basic build tests for gentle use.

Neither will satisfy professionals seeking rugged, all-weather gear.

Lens Systems and Compatibility

Both come with fixed lenses, so no interchangeable options exist.

Olympus’s 21x zoom (25-525mm equivalent) is extraordinary for a compact, incorporating optical image stabilization to mitigate handshake. Aperture range of f/3.1-5.8 is competitive but limiting in low light.

Pentax’s 5x zoom (28-140mm) and f/3.5-5.9 aperture track mid-range expectations, with reasonable optical stabilization. Focal range lacks reach for distant subjects but covers general purpose shots well.

Neither lens delivers professional-grade sharpness throughout zoom, but acceptable for casual use.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Interestingly, Olympus opts for four AA batteries - an arrangement that offers easy replacement in the field but adds weight and bulk. This is a pragmatic choice for adventure photographers who might avoid dependence on chargers.

Pentax utilizes a proprietary lithium-ion battery, giving lighter weight and longer operational time per charge but requiring recharging infrastructure or spares.

Both cameras use standard SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, with Pentax adding internal storage backup.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Connectivity options remain rudimentary on both cameras.

Olympus and Pentax both support Eye-Fi wireless SD cards, allowing wireless image transfers with compatible cards. Neither offers built-in Bluetooth or NFC, and Pentax lacks HDMI output - detracting from modern workflow compatibility.

USB 2.0 ports serve tethered data transfer but offer slow speeds by today’s standards.

Price and Value Assessment

At launch, the Olympus SP-620 UZ was priced around $199, while the Pentax H90 retailed near $150 - a significant gap reflecting the superzoom advantage versus compact portability.

Today, prices for both hover in the budget category on secondary markets, with Olympus commanding a slight premium due to zoom versatility.

Considering feature sets and varied user needs, the Olympus justifies the premium for wildlife and travel enthusiasts seeking reach and flexibility. Pentax appeals as a lightweight street and travel camera for those valuing pocketability over specs.

Sample Images: Visual Evidence from Both Cameras

To complement their specifications, we captured a series of test shots under controlled and natural conditions to compare color rendition, sharpness, and artifact behavior.

Olympus SP 620 UZ front Olympus SP 620 UZ screen back Pentax H90 front Pentax H90 screen back

Close inspection reveals Olympus’s higher megapixel count delivers finer details, especially in daylight foliage and textured scenes. Pentax’s output, while softer, exhibits more conservative sharpening and less noise at similar ISOs, courtesy of more aggressive noise management.

Final Verdict and Recommendations

Summarizing the intricate details into practical takeaways:

• For Wildlife and Travel Enthusiasts: The Olympus SP-620 UZ stands out with its extraordinary zoom range and decent image stabilization, enabling subjects at a distance to be captured without additional lenses. Its hand-friendly ergonomics suit users accustomed to holding a camera steady over long shoots. However, one must accept its larger physical size and higher weight. Its limited video capabilities and lack of RAW support curb creative post-processing ambitions.

• For Street Photographers and Casual Everyday Use: The Pentax Optio H90 shines as a highly portable and lightweight option, well-suited for spontaneous snaps, city explorations, and travel. Its crisp handling and manageable zoom give a balance between convenience and image quality. Though its lower resolution might disappoint pixel peepers, most users will appreciate the easy handling and better usability in dim light.

• For Portrait and Macro Lovers: Olympus offers marginally better performance due to closer focusing distance and wider aperture. Pentax, while competent, falls short on bokeh quality and macro intimacy.

• For Budget-Conscious Buyers: The Pentax generally comes at a lower price point with robust features for point-and-shoot photographers, making it a sound value pick.

• For Technical Users: Neither camera advances manual controls or RAW workflows meaningfully. Their CCD sensors, while historically favored for color fidelity, limit low-light and dynamic range capabilities compared to newer CMOS-based rivals.

In closing, both cameras represent solid choices within their respective design philosophies. Choosing between them boils down to priorities: reach and handling with Olympus’s superzoom, or portability and simplicity with Pentax’s compact form.

If I were packing for a trip with unpredictable subjects stretching from street scenes to wildlife, I’d lean towards Olympus SP-620 UZ for its versatility. For day-to-day urban use, the Pentax Optio H90 would comfortably find a place in my jacket pocket.

This comparison aimed to unpack their strengths and limitations with honest, experience-driven insights. For any photographer navigating the older compact camera landscape, understanding these nuances is key to finding the gear that genuinely serves your creative goals.

Happy shooting!