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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced February 2011
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-10 was released 3 years before the K-500 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-10 matches up vs the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Pentax K-500

 SZ-10 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus SZ-10

 K-500 SZ-10 
LaunchedNovember 2013February 2011More modern by 34 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K-500

 SZ-10 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-10 has physical measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-10 versus the K-500.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and K-500 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading specifications. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-10 and K-500.

Plainly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-10 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-500 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged SZ-10 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography info
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
Street photography with Pentax K-500
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (215 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
very good ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
40
amazing zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
great battery life (710 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
65
lighter than competition (215g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
great zoom (504mm)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
great battery life (710 per charge)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-10
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
40
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery (220 per charge)
no Timelapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (710 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging info
Pentax K-500 Vlogging info
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than competition (215 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus SZ-10Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Pentax K-500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-08 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ PRIME M
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 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 51600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 220 images 710 images
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery ID LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $300 $600