Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Pentax MX-1

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SP-800 UZ versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively similar but the SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SP-800 UZ was launched 4 years earlier than the MX-1 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SP-800 UZ matches up against the MX-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SP-800 UZ & Pentax MX-1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SP-800 UZ Gallery & Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SP-800 UZ offers exterior measurements of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-800 UZ versus Pentax MX-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-800 UZ against the MX-1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-800 UZ and MX-1 is 69 and 84 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The picture underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-800 UZ and MX-1.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SP-800 UZ because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus SP-800 UZ will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged SP-800 UZ is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.