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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced February 2011
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the K-5 II (16MP) is pretty similar but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and K-5 II (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-10 was unveiled 3 years prior to the K-5 II and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SZ-10 grades against the K-5 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Pentax K-5 II

 SZ-10 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Olympus SZ-10

 K-5 II SZ-10 
ReleasedJune 2013February 2011More recent by 28 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K-5 II

 SZ-10 K-5 II 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 features outside dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-10 against the K-5 II.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and K-5 II is 90 and 60 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-10 and K-5 II.

Clearly, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-10 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 II will offer you greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older SZ-10 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography factors
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
Street photography with Pentax K-5 II
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (215g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography info
40
incredible zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
65
lighter than average in class (215g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great zoom (504mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
weather proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography features
40
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging features
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than average in class (215g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus SZ-10Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-10 Pentax K-5 II
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-02-08 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215 gr (0.47 lb) 760 gr (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1235
Other
Battery life 220 images 980 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $300 $830