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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched July 2011
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Updated by Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax K-1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-11 (14MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and K-1 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-11 was announced 5 years before the K-1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-11 matches up against the K-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Pentax K-1

 SZ-11 K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus SZ-11

 K-1 SZ-11 
IntroducedFebruary 2016July 2011Fresher by 55 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax K-1

 SZ-11 K-1 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 offers outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-11 versus the K-1.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and K-1 is 89 and 55 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-11 and K-1.

Clearly, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ-11 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-1 will resolve more detail with its extra 22MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older SZ-11 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
85
focusing manually
great megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography factors
Pentax K-1 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
70
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
very good ISO range (204,800)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Sports photography camera
43
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
low fps (4.4 fps)
bad battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography info
Pentax K-1 Travel photography info
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery life (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
53
environment proof
great megapixels (36MP)
bad battery pack (760 per charge)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography highlights
40
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
81
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
bad battery pack (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus SZ-11Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-11 Pentax K-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-07-27 2016-02-17
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 1600 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/200 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 1010g (2.23 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.6
DXO Low light score not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 760 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots 1 2
Retail price $253 $1,499