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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax MX-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 MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus SZ-11 versus Pentax MX-1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is pretty close but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") have totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-11 was released 23 months before the MX-1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-11 matches up vs the MX-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 SZ-11 MX-1 

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

 MX-1 SZ-11 
LaunchedJuly 2013July 2011Fresher by 23 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

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

 SZ-11 MX-1 
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 comes with exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-11 versus Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-11 and the MX-1.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and MX-1 is 89 and 84 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing specs. The visual below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-11 and MX-1.

All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ-11 because of its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Olympus SZ-11 will render more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older SZ-11 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
42
manual focus
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
43
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery (290 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-11
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
61
better than average battery (290 shots)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
33
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus SZ-11Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Pentax MX-1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-07-27 2013-07-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 391 grams (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 200 images 290 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $253 $400