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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Pentax X-5 front
Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 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 X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Revealed August 2012
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-10 versus Pentax X-5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the X-5 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-10 was launched 18 months earlier than the X-5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SZ-10 grades vs the X-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Pentax X-5

 SZ-10 X-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Olympus SZ-10

 X-5 SZ-10 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2011Fresher by 18 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax X-5

 SZ-10 X-5 
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-10 has outer measurements of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax X-5 has dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-10 versus Pentax X-5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-10 and the X-5.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and X-5 is 90 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-10 and X-5.

As you have seen, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Pentax X-5 to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older SZ-10 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography info
Pentax X-5 Portrait photography info
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
43
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detect focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Street photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (595 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography factors
Pentax X-5 Sports photography factors
40
great zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
52
incredible zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography info
Pentax X-5 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competition in class (215g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long reach (504mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
53
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (22mm)
long reach (580mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (595 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography features
Pentax X-5 Landscape photography features
40
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
fairly wide (22mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-10
Vlogging with Pentax X-5
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (215g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port
26
fairly wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (595g)
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Pentax X-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Pentax X-5
 Olympus SZ-10Pentax X-5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-10 Pentax X-5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-08 2012-08-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-504mm (18.0x) 22-580mm (26.4x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.4 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 230 thousand dots
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 9.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 215g (0.47 pounds) 595g (1.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 330 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $300 $230