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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
78
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus SP-810 UZ front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus SP-810 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-864mm (F2.9-5.7) lens
  • 413g - 106 x 76 x 74mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SP-800 UZ
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Here is a extensive assessment of the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax MX-1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SP-810 UZ (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively close but the SP-810 UZ (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer different sensor measurements.

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The SP-810 UZ was revealed 23 months earlier than the MX-1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-810 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SP-810 UZ scores versus the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-810 UZ over the Pentax MX-1

 SP-810 UZ MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus SP-810 UZ

 MX-1 SP-810 UZ 
AnnouncedJuly 2013July 2011Fresher by 23 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax MX-1

 SP-810 UZ MX-1 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-810 UZ has outer measurements of 106mm x 76mm x 74mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SP-810 UZ compared to the MX-1.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-810 UZ and MX-1 is 78 and 84 respectively.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-810 UZ and MX-1.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SP-810 UZ with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus SP-810 UZ will result in more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older SP-810 UZ will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-810 UZ
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
42
manual focus
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Street photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Street photography advice
50
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
small sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (391g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
40
great zoom range (24-864mm 36.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
slow fps (0.7 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
great battery pack (290 shots)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
61
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (864mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
61
great battery pack (290 per charge)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (391g)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
40
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-810 UZ
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
27
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
33
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic jack
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus SP-810 UZPentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SP-810 UZ Pentax MX-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-07-27 2013-07-01
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-864mm (36.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.9-5.7 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 1/4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 0.7fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.20 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 413 gr (0.91 lbs) 391 gr (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 76 x 74mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 2.9") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $280 $400