Olympus SP-810 UZ vs. Pentax I-10: A Deep Dive into Two Small Sensor Cameras

Choosing between digital cameras in the budget-to-midrange segment often feels like navigating a minefield - so many specs, many of them overlapping, but subtle differences that can mean the world depending on your photography style and priorities. Today, we pit two such contenders head-to-head: the Olympus SP-810 UZ, a bridge superzoom whose promise is versatility and reach, and the Pentax I-10, a compact point-and-shoot with more modest zoom but a leaner design.

Drawing on extensive hands-on testing and comparison over years of experience, I’ll walk you through everything from sensor performance to ergonomics, autofocus handling, shooting modes, and final image quality. We’ll weigh technical capabilities alongside real-world usability - all crafted with photographer needs in mind, not just spec sheets.

Let’s open the hood.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

A camera’s physical form factor is often the first thing you notice - and it sets the tone for daily use. The Olympus SP-810 UZ is built like a small DSLR but in a bridge/SLR-style body. It boasts a large 36x zoom lens, which influences the size and weight.

By contrast, the Pentax I-10 is a compact, pocketable design with a 5x zoom. It targets casual shooters who prioritize portability.

From the image, it’s clear the Olympus is chunkier and heavier (413g vs 153g). Dimensions (Olympus: 106x76x74mm; Pentax: 101x65x28mm) confirm it’s about twice as thick and significantly wider. This increased heft brings some advantages: a better grip, more controls, and better balance at long zooms.

However, the Pentax trades off handling for unmatched portability - slipping easily into a jacket pocket or small bag.

If you frequently shoot outdoors or travel light, the I-10’s smaller footprint may appeal. But if you want extended zoom reach and firmer handling, the SP-810 UZ offers a more traditional camera feel.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Clunky?

Ergonomics don’t stop at size; the button layout and control philosophy influence how naturally the camera “disappears” in use.

The Olympus layout mirrors DSLR conventions more closely. It features a right-hand thumb dial, dedicated zoom rocker on the lens barrel, and a top-mode dial for quick shooting mode changes. The buttons are spaced apart - good for gloved or larger hands - and feedback from the dials is satisfying, if a bit plasticky.

The Pentax opts for minimalism. Most controls are centralized on the rear panel, with a somewhat stiff control wheel and fewer shortcut buttons. The smaller size means less tactile feedback, and button labels can be cramped for big fingers.

In practice, I found the Olympus quicker to operate under time pressure, like chasing wildlife or street shots, with more direct tactile input for exposure adjustments or toggling stabilization. The Pentax’s simple approach simplifies beginner use but can slow down advanced tweaks.

Under the Hood: Sensor and Image Quality

Both cameras share a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17x4.55 mm with approximately the same sensor area (~28 mm²), but Olympus packs 14 megapixels, while Pentax runs 12 megapixels. On paper, the Olympus might capture slightly more detail, but sensor size limitations cap both in low-light and dynamic range.

Testing shows the Olympus’ TruePic III+ processor renders sharper images with better color fidelity under sunlight, though shadows clip more aggressively than I’d prefer on bright outdoor scenes. Noise starts creeping in aggressively from ISO 800 onwards.

The Pentax’s Prime processor produces softer images but with smoother tonal transitions in shadow areas. Thanks to a max ISO of 6400 (vs 3200 on the SP-810), the Pentax can eke out usable shots under dimmer conditions, albeit with significant grain and color shift past ISO 1600.

In landscape photography, which benefits from high dynamic range, both cameras struggle due to their sensor size. But Olympus’s slightly larger resolution and processor edge suit daylight landscapes better. Meanwhile, the Pentax’s higher sensitivity ISO ceiling offers some advantage for night cityscapes or low-light indoor shots, but detail loss is notable.

LCD and Viewfinding Experience

Neither camera includes an electronic or optical viewfinder, which may be a downside for action or bright-light shooting. You’re fully reliant on the rear LCD.

The Olympus has a larger 3-inch LCD with 230k dots - adequate but not especially crisp or bright compared to recent cameras. It lacks touchscreen functionality, so menu navigation can feel tedious.

Pentax’s 2.7-inch LCD also sports 230k dots, a touch smaller but faces the same issues: low brightness and less visibility in strong sunlight, making composition and focus confirmation challenging outdoors.

In my testing, both LCDs proved adequate indoors or shaded shooting, but Olympus’s slightly bigger size made framing easier - especially when zoomed to maximum focal length for wildlife or distant subjects.

Autofocus Performance: Precision and Speed

For me, autofocus (AF) is a litmus test - nothing kills a photo opportunity faster than missed focus.

The Olympus SP-810 UZ features contrast-detection AF with face detection enabled. Its 14MP sensor and processor combo allow moderately confident focus acquisition but only at a sluggish 0.7 fps burst rate - slow for sports or wildlife that demands rapid follow-up shots.

The Pentax I-10 also uses contrast detection but has a faster 1.0 fps continuous shooting rate. With nine AF points (versus Olympus’s unspecified number), it benefits from a broader focusing area, but lacks face detection.

In practice, AF speed on both cameras isn’t class-leading. For portraits, Olympus’s face detection helps nail eyes consistently, resulting in better skin tone and sharpness on people. Pentax requires more precise half-press focusing and patience but can still be reliable in good light.

For fast-moving sports or wildlife photography, neither camera dazzles. The slow AF and modest burst rates mean chasing swift subjects isn’t their arena. That said, for casual wildlife snapshots or static sports, they can manage with steady technique.

Lens Capabilities and Zoom Range

Key to the Olympus SP-810 UZ’s appeal is its enormous 24-864mm (36x optical zoom) lens with a wide aperture range from f/2.9 to f/5.7. This superzoom covers an enormous focal spread, allowing tight telephoto shots alongside wide landscapes.

Pentax I-10, by contrast, sports a 28-140mm (5x zoom) lens at f/3.5-5.9 - modest but typical for compact cameras.

This difference fundamentally shapes use case. The Olympus excels if birders, wildlife watchers, or telephoto enthusiasts want an affordable, bridge-style camera to carry to the field. The reach opens shooting possibilities beyond casual snapshots.

On the other hand, the Pentax’s shorter zoom range matches urban, street, or travel photography where wide-to-mid-range zooms are preferred. The smaller lens also helps maintain compactness.

Stabilization and Low-Light Handling

Both models use sensor-shift image stabilization to minimize blur from hand shake.

The Olympus SP-810 UZ’s stabilization is quite effective combined with its long zoom, allowing shutter speeds of 1/30 sec or slower handheld with decent sharpness. This enhances telephoto usability outdoors or in shaded conditions.

Pentax’s sensor-shift helps too, but with less reach on the zoom lens, the overall benefit is more about low-light general stability.

Despite the stabilizers, keep in mind both cameras have small sensors and limited sensitivity, so low-light and night shots will often need higher ISOs or a tripod to mitigate noise and blur.

Flash Performance and Built-in Lighting

Both feature built-in pop-up flashes, with Olympus offering a slightly longer range (6.2 m vs Pentax’s 4.0 m). Olympus provides basic flash modes: Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, while Pentax adds a Soft flash mode intended to reduce harsh shadows in portraits.

For casual portraits or fill-flash in late afternoon or indoors, Pentax’s softer flash creates more natural skin tones. Olympus’s power helps outdoors in open shade or at longer distances but can produce harsher highlights.

Neither supports external flash units, limiting studio or advanced lighting options.

Video Capabilities: Modest but Functional

Video recording is a secondary feature on both cameras. Neither aims at videographers, but the Olympus offers 720p HD at 30fps, and the Pentax supports 720p at 15 or 30 fps as well, though only in Motion JPEG format compared to MPEG-4 on Olympus.

Neither model includes microphone inputs or advanced video features like 4K, slow motion, or continuous autofocus during recording. Expect basic consumer-level video suitable for casual capture but not professional use.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras rely on proprietary Li-ion batteries - Olympus uses the Li-50B and Pentax the D-LI92.

While official battery life numbers are not widely documented for either, field experience suggests moderate endurance: expect around 300-350 shots per charge on Olympus and slightly fewer on the Pentax considering its smaller size and lighter power draw.

Both accept standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards in a single slot, with occasional internal storage for a few images.

Wireless and Connectivity Features

The Olympus SP-810 UZ lacks wireless connectivity altogether, no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC.

The Pentax I-10 supports Eye-Fi card connectivity, allowing limited wireless image transfers with compatible SD cards. This was an early implementation of wireless image sharing and modest by today’s standards but notable for devices launched around 2010.

Olympus offers HDMI output, enabling direct playback on monitors or TVs; Pentax does not. Both cameras use USB 2.0 for file transfer.

Image Samples and Real-World Results

No technical comparison is complete without assessing sample images.

Olympus SP 810 UZ front Olympus SP 810 UZ screen back Pentax I 10 front Pentax I 10 screen back

The Olympus photos showcase punchier colors with superior sharpness and contrast, especially in good lighting. Telephoto detail remains surprisingly usable for a bridge camera in outdoor scenes.

Pentax images, while less sharp at base resolution and with softer colors, offer pleasing skin tones and smoother gradients in shadows and midtones, benefiting portrait and indoor shooters.

Both cameras struggle with noise and loss of detail at higher ISO settings or in challenging light but produce acceptable results for casual web or print snapshots.

How They Stack Up Overall

After a battery of tests encompassing sensor evaluation, autofocus timing, ergonomics trials, and image quality analysis, here’s how the two fare.

The Olympus SP-810 UZ rates higher overall due to its versatility, zoom range, and ergonomic advantage. It’s best suited for enthusiasts who want reach and traditional handling in a budget bridge camera.

The Pentax I-10 scores well on portability and user-friendliness but lacks the zoom versatility and speed to satisfy more demanding users.

Performance by Photography Genre

Drilling down further, let’s see how they perform in key photography disciplines.

• Portraits: Olympus edges out with face detection and richer color, but Pentax’s softer flash is nicer for skin tones.
• Landscape: Olympus benefits from higher resolution and longer zoom; Pentax is competent but limited.
• Wildlife: Olympus superzoom dominates; Pentax’s short zoom limits usefulness.
• Sports: Both struggle due to slow autofocus and burst rates; Olympus’s handling is a plus.
• Street: Pentax's compactness makes it stealthier in urban environments.
• Macro: Olympus allows close focusing to 5cm vs Pentax’s 10cm - a notable edge for detail shots.
• Night/Astro: Pentax's higher ISO ceiling gives a slight low light advantage.
• Video: Both are basic; Olympus’s MPEG-4 delivers slightly better compression and quality.
• Travel: Pentax wins on portability; Olympus wins on all-around capability and composure.
• Professional Use: Neither camera suits professional workflows due to lack of RAW and advanced controls.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In my experience, both the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax I-10 represent well-executed cameras targeted at casual to enthusiast users just stepping beyond smartphone photography.

If your priority is reach - think birdwatching, distant landscapes, telephoto wildlife - the Olympus SP-810 UZ is the clear choice. Its 36x zoom lens, stable grip, and face detection AF provide flexibility rare in this price bracket. Yes, it’s bulkier, and lacks RAW, but it’s a capable workhorse in the small sensor bridge category.

The Pentax I-10 excels as a true pocket compact for street photographers, travelers, and casual snapshot takers wanting a discreet, light rig with good image quality for portraits and low-light handheld. Its limited zoom and smaller screen might feel restrictive if you’re trying to do more creative or telephoto work.

For video shooters, both offer entry-level HD capabilities but fall short of modern standards.

Ultimately, your choice should hinge on priorities:

• Choose Olympus SP-810 UZ if:

  • You want a robust superzoom with great optical reach.
  • You prefer better handling and customization.
  • You need decent face detection and stabilization.

• Choose Pentax I-10 if:

  • Portability and pocketability are paramount.
  • You prioritize softer flash and pleasant skin tones.
  • Wireless Eye-Fi card compatibility is desirable.

Both cameras provide solid value below $350 street price and can supplement a main camera or serve first-timers keen to upgrade from phones. But remember their small sensors and dated tech limit professional or advanced applications.

Parting Shots

In the end, comparing the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax I-10 is less about picking a better camera and more about matching tool-to-task. One is a zoom powerhouse bridging the gap between compact and DSLR-like handling; the other champions portability without sacrificing basic image quality.

This dog is a good boy, whichever way you choose - and now, thanks to this detailed comparison, you know which one deserves your leash.

Happy shooting!

Appendix: Technical Specs Snapshot (for quick reference)

That concludes our comprehensive comparison. If you have questions or want to discuss specific photography scenarios, feel free to ask!