Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Pentax X-5

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus SP-800 UZ versus Pentax X-5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the X-5 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-800 UZ was announced 3 years before the X-5 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SP-800 UZ scores vs the X-5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-800 UZ and Pentax X-5. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SP-800 UZ Gallery and Pentax X-5 Gallery.

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SP-800 UZ offers exterior dimensions of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) while the Pentax X-5 has specifications of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") along with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-800 UZ versus Pentax X-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SP-800 UZ versus the X-5.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-800 UZ and X-5 is 69 and 65 respectively.

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-800 UZ and X-5.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Pentax X-5 to give extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged SP-800 UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.