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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
78
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus SP-810 UZ front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus SP-810 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-864mm (F2.9-5.7) lens
  • 413g - 106 x 76 x 74mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus SP-800 UZ
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax RS1500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SP-810 UZ (14MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very close and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SP-810 UZ was manufactured 5 months later than the RS1500 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-810 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SP-810 UZ scores vs the RS1500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-810 UZ over the Pentax RS1500

 SP-810 UZ RS1500 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus SP-810 UZ

 RS1500 SP-810 UZ 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax RS1500

 SP-810 UZ RS1500 
AnnouncedJuly 2011March 2011Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SP-810 UZ features outer dimensions of 106mm x 76mm x 74mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 2.9") along with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SP-810 UZ versus the RS1500.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-810 UZ and RS1500 is 78 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The visual below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-810 UZ and RS1500.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of files however you will want to factor the production date of the cameras into account.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Portrait photography information
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography information
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
35
focusing manually
MP count decent (14MP)
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
50
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
environment proofing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Sports photography features
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography features
40
incredible zoom range (24-864mm 36.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (0.7 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
37
MP count decent (14MP)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Travel photography information
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
61
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (864mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
67
environment proofing
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-810 UZ
Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
40
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
40
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
environment proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Vlogging features
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging features
27
fairly wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-810 UZ and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus SP-810 UZPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SP-810 UZ Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-07-27 2011-03-16
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-864mm (36.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/2.9-5.7 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 0.7 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.20 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 pounds) 157 grams (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 76 x 74mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 2.9") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $280 $150