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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Launched February 2011
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced February 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Below is a extended assessment of the Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the W90 (12MP) is relatively similar and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-10 was introduced 12 months later than the W90 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-10 grades against the W90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Pentax W90

 SZ-10 W90 
IntroducedFebruary 2011February 2010More recent by 12 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus SZ-10

 W90 SZ-10 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax W90

 SZ-10 W90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 comes with outer dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-10 compared to the W90.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-10 and W90 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-10 and W90.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Olympus SZ-10 to offer greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger SZ-10 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography information
Pentax W90 Portrait photography information
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Street photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
environment proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography info
Pentax W90 Sports photography info
40
incredible zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
24
environment proof
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography advice
Pentax W90 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition in class (215g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long reach (504mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
64
environment proof
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Landscape photography camera
40
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery power (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
37
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax W90 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax W90
 Olympus SZ-10Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-10 Pentax Optio W90
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2011-02-08 2010-02-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Prime
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 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.10 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 215 gr (0.47 pounds) 164 gr (0.36 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $300 $120