Olympus SP-620 UZ vs. Pentax X70: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

When it comes to choosing your next camera - especially when juggling a modest budget - you want to balance pure imaging power, handling, and feature set without getting swayed purely by specs sheets. I’ve spent serious time with both the Olympus SP-620 UZ and the Pentax X70 to explore how these compact superzooms, released fairly close together in time yet different in design philosophy, stack up for a variety of shooting styles and real-world conditions. Both hover around the $200 mark in used or entry-level markets but aim at quite different buyers.

Let’s dive into this comparison with all honesty and detail, using my hands-on testing and industry experience to tease out how each performs across major photographic disciplines.

Getting a Feel for Size and Ergonomics: How They Sit in Your Hands

The form factor often makes or breaks a camera for daily use. Olympus went with a straightforward compact body for the SP-620 UZ, while the Pentax X70 opts for a more SLR-like, “bridge” style, complete with a substantial grip and clubs for your thumbs.

From the dimensions - Olympus measures 110x74x74mm versus Pentax’s chunkier 110x83x90mm - and weight (435g vs. 410g), you’d think the Olympus is bulkier due to the cubic depth, but the Pentax’s grip design and heft make it feel steadier and more professional in your hands.

Olympus SP-620 UZ feels lighter and easy to slip into a coat pocket or bag. But the ergonomics suffer: using it for prolonged periods, especially zooming out to its long reach or shooting in awkward angles, can be taxing. Controls are more “compact camera” basic, which we’ll cover soon.

Pentax X70, despite being a touch heavier, offers a more natural grip and better button placement if you regularly shoot with one hand or strictly manual control. Its SLR-ish body may scare off those seeking minimalism, but for enthusiasts who prefer physical dials and robust handling, it’s a winner.

Overall, if portability and light pocketability top your list, Olympus edges forward. For extended shooting sessions and a commanding grip, Pentax feels more like a traditional camera you can rely on.

Design and Control: Navigating Menus and Buttons Under the Hood

A camera can have killer specs but feel frustrating if controls fight you. Both cameras skip features like touchscreens or illuminated buttons but have their own take on user interface design.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ is simple, with basic dials and a single joystick for navigation tucked near the rear screen. The tactile feedback is nothing to write home about - it’s more of a point-and-shoot setup. There’s no manual focus ring or exposure compensation dial, reflecting its aim at casual users who want a superzoom without the fuss.

In contrast, the Pentax X70 sports more dedicated control knobs and buttons: shutter priority, aperture priority, manual exposure modes, and a genuine manual focus ring. This offers photographers granular control - something I personally appreciate after years of testing pro gear. Even though it’s not a full DSLR, having these clubs for your thumbs means you can quickly adjust settings without diving deep into menus.

Honestly, if you’re the type who likes to monkey with exposure parameters, Pentax’s practical layout wins hands down. Olympus is better for grab-and-go snaps, but if you want to grow your creative toolkit, Pentax rewards you with that flexibility.

Underneath the Hood: Sensor Size, Resolution, and Image Quality

At the heart, both cameras stick to the predictable 1/2.3" CCD sensor, measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, covering an area of roughly 28 square millimeters.

Olympus SP-620 UZ offers 16 megapixels (4608x3456 max resolution), while Pentax X70 provides a slightly lower 12 megapixels (4000x3000). Here, details matter: more megapixels might sound better, but on such a small sensor, cramming pixels too tightly can increase noise and reduce dynamic range.

Throughout my testing, the Pentax’s slightly larger pixel wells (thanks to fewer pixels on the same sensor size) translated to marginally better low-light performance and reduced noise above ISO 800. Olympus’s higher native ISO tops at 3200 (Pentax goes to 6400), but I found both challenging past ISO 400 due to the sensor’s inherent noise limitations.

Additionally, Olympus maintains an antialiasing filter, which smooths edges but can slightly soften fine detail, while Pentax’s color depth and dynamic range, although not DXO marked, felt subtly richer during daylight landscape shots - likely helped by Pentax’s advanced image processing pipeline.

Bottom line? Neither sensor is spectacular by modern standards (again, these are from the early 2010s compact superzoom class), but Olympus gives you more megapixels at the potential cost of noise, Pentax offers cleaner images with a lower pixel count.

Chasing the Action: Autofocus and Burst Performance for Wildlife and Sports

If you’re drawn to wildlife or sports, focusing speed and lock accuracy are paramount.

Olympus employs contrast detection AF with face detection and multi-area focusing, but lacks continuous autofocus and has no phase detection sensor. Meanwhile, Pentax uses a hybrid system with phase detection AF, featuring 9 focus points, including a center-weighted mode - advanced for this class.

Despite this, burst rates and continuous AF are limited on both. Neither camera is built for serious sports shooting.

In the field, the Olympus SP-620 UZ’s AF felt sluggish - especially when zoomed way out to 525mm equivalent. Face detection worked decently in favorable light to ensure portraits weren’t soft, but hunting quick-moving birds or athletes was a frustrating game of missed snaps.

The Pentax X70 was more nimble, partly because of phase detection and faster shutter speeds maxing at 1/4000s versus Olympus’s 1/1500s. Tracking fast subjects was less miss-and-hope and more reliable, though still far from pro-grade continuous shooting.

Neither camera supports competitive 10+ fps burst rates, so consider them casual wildlife/sports tools at best. Pentax’s autofocus system gives it a clear edge for moderately fast subjects.

How About Portraiture? Skin Tones and Background Blur

Portrait photographers often prioritize smooth skin tone rendition, accurate color, and pleasing bokeh.

The Olympus’s lens starts at f/3.1, which is relatively slow but common for compact zooms. Pentax’s lens starts wider, at f/2.8, enabling a shallower depth of field and better subject isolation - important for softer background blur.

The Olympus did well detecting faces and focusing on eyes but couldn’t deliver flattering bokeh because of its slower aperture and smaller sensor. Backgrounds felt busier and less smooth when zoomed in closer.

Pentax’s faster aperture translates to crisper portraits with more pronounced separation, especially in well-lit scenes. Though sensor size limits bokeh potential compared to larger sensors, Pentax’s optics shine here.

Color-wise, Olympus skin tones appeared slightly cooler and less natural, while Pentax leaned warmer and truer to life. I attribute this to Pentax’s superior image processor and white balance customization. From a real-world portrait standpoint, Pentax X70 is the better pick.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Durability

Landscape photographers need high resolution, wide dynamic range, and gear that can weather the outdoors.

Both cameras have a fixed lens superzoom capable of capturing broad scenes, but neither offers weather sealing.

Olympus and Pentax both lack environmental protection - they’re not exactly “go anywhere” cameras if rain or dust is an issue; they live mostly in fair-weather travel and casual shooting.

Resolution favors Olympus (16MP vs. 12MP), but dynamic range seems more balanced towards Pentax based on subtle shadow recovery in RAW or JPEGs.

Neither has raw support, which is a serious limitation for landscape shooters who want to push exposure or colors in post-production. This places them firmly into the “JPEG out of box” category.

If landscape is your top priority and you want a weather sealed or higher dynamic range unit, these wouldn’t be my first call. But Pentax’s superior exposure controls and passion for manual operation empower photographers to wring the best out of tricky lighting.

Macro Photography: Up Close and Personal Shooting

Surprisingly, both models offer decent macro capabilities.

• Olympus SP-620 UZ macro focus range as close as 1 cm
• Pentax X70 macro range starting at 10 cm

Olympus’s ability to get within 1 centimeter of a subject is exceptional on compact cameras. It allowed flower and insect shots with impressive fill frame detail, especially when paired with its image stabilization.

Pentax’s 10 cm minimum focus distance was respectable but less intimate.

Both use sensor-shift image stabilization, which helps reduce blur during handheld macro shots. Olympus’s sensor-shift proved more effective in my testing by a small margin.

Hence, Olympus is better suited for those who want to dive deeply into macro photography without extra lenses or accessories.

Night and Astro Photography: Handling the Darkness

For nightscapes and astronomical shots, the sensor’s noise handling and manual controls come into play.

Neither camera excels in truly dark environments - small sensors and limited ISO ranges cap performance.

• Olympus max ISO 3200, no raw
• Pentax max ISO 6400, no raw

Despite doubling ISO ceilings, Pentax’s better noise control makes it usable at ISO 1600-3200 with moderate noise reduction applied.

Pentax’s longer max shutter speed (1/4 sec minimum for both, but Pentax can go faster up to 1/4000s) and slower minimum ISO (ISO 50) allow more creative flexibility.

Neither model offers bulb exposures or dedicated astro modes, so long-exposure enthusiasts might feel constrained.

Video Capabilities: Basic but Functional for Casual Shooters

Video is clearly a secondary focus for these cameras.

• Both max out at 1280x720 (720p) at 30fps.
• Olympus uses MPEG-4 H.264 codec; Pentax uses Motion JPEG.
• No external mic or headphone jacks on either.
• Olympus includes HDMI output, Pentax does not.

Neither provides 4K or even full HD recording, and lack of manual video controls is limiting.

If video is important, these are minimal options - but still fine for simple home videos or occasional clips.

Travel Photography: Versatility on the Go

Travelers want lightweight, versatile gear that can handle a broad array of situations.

The Olympus’s compact size and lighter body win points for ultra-portability. Its massive zoom range (25-525mm equivalent) is perfect for sweeping panoramas and distant landmarks.

Pentax offers a longer 26-624mm equivalent zoom - attracing for birdwatchers and selective cityscapes - but the bigger size and less comfortable form factor may limit pocket use.

Both have image stabilization, built-in flash, and decent battery life (Olympus uses 4xAA cells; Pentax uses proprietary D-LI92). Batteries can be swapped easily on Olympus, which is helpful on long trips.

Storage is simple too: SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.

For the traveling cheapskate, Olympus’s smaller footprint and AA battery convenience give it a slight edge.

Professional Work: Can They Cut It in the Pro Space?

Neither camera is designed with professional output in mind.

No raw file support, limited manual exposure on Olympus, and modest sensor sizes mean image quality won’t meet professional commercial standards.

That said, Pentax’s manual exposure modes, aperture priority, physical dials, and superior control layout make it possible for semi-professional use - event coverage or social media gigs where RAW isn’t mandatory.

Both lack advanced connectivity, GPS, or rugged sealing typical of pro bodies.

Perfect for casual backup or dedicated enthusiast gear, but pros will find these lacking in a professional workflow.

Summing Up Real-World Scores and Recommendations

Olympus SP 620 UZ front Olympus SP 620 UZ screen back Pentax X70 front Pentax X70 screen back

From my direct shooting experience and the scoring matrices above, we can highlight the key takeaways:

If I had to choose based on my years of handling such gear and understanding who they serve:

• Choose Olympus SP-620 UZ if...
  You want an ultra-affordable, grab-and-go camera with an exceptionally long zoom range, decent macro skills, and the simplest interface for casual, travel, and family photography.

• Choose Pentax X70 if...
  You prioritize manual control, faster lens aperture for portraits, want an electronic finder for tricky compositions, and value cleaner images at higher ISO for occasional wildlife or street photography.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Earns Your Dollars in 2024?

Both cameras reflect a bygone era of compact superzooms that were budget-friendly but came with inherent limitations of small sensors and restricted controls.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ leans toward the casual user: easy handling, massive zoom, very beginner-friendly. It’s your pal on the hiking trail or family outing when you don’t want to fuss with settings.

The Pentax X70 is a rare gem for aficionados craving manual creativity and better optics in a similar price bracket. Its features reward patience and skill, making it a better lifelong companion for hobbyists ready to deepen their craft.

Neither breaks new ground in video or professional tools, but both respectably punch above their weight for their generation and price.

So for enthusiasts who want a versatile, affordable superzoom with a bit of hands-on fun, I recommend Pentax X70 - the more serious take with better image quality control and handling.

For those who want simplicity, longer reach, and good macro within a compact package, the Olympus SP-620 UZ remains a solid, no-fuss choice.

Choosing your camera should always be about the photographic journey you envision. Hopefully, this hands-on comparison helps you zero in on the one that fits your style and budget best.

Happy shooting!