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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D 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 K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed December 2006
  • Updated by Pentax K100D S
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K100D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-10 (14MP) and K100D (6MP) and the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-10 was manufactured 4 years after the K100D which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SZ-10 scores against the K100D in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Pentax K100D

 SZ-10 K100D 
RevealedFebruary 2011December 2006More modern by 51 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kCrisper screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Olympus SZ-10

 K100D SZ-10 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K100D

 SZ-10 K100D 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-10 has outside measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax K100D has sizing of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K100D in the all new 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 working with during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-10 versus the K100D.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and K100D is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The pic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-10 and K100D.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-10 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus SZ-10 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more modern SZ-10 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography details
Pentax K100D Portrait photography details
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
51
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
Street photography with Pentax K100D
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
58
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
more heavy than competitors in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Sports photography camera
40
incredible zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
47
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K100D Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great zoom (504mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery power (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
42
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (660g)
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography information
Pentax K100D Landscape photography information
40
rather wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery power (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
52
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
sensor resolution low (6MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K100D as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (215g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax K100D
 Olympus SZ-10Pentax K100D
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-10 Pentax K100D
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-08 2006-12-03
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.10 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215 grams (0.47 pounds) 660 grams (1.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
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 220 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $300 $0