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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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 RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax RS1500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is fairly comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-11 was unveiled 5 months after the RS1500 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SZ-11 matches up vs the RS1500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Pentax RS1500

 SZ-11 RS1500 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus SZ-11

 RS1500 SZ-11 
Manual focus More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax RS1500

 SZ-11 RS1500 
IntroducedJuly 2011March 2011Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-11 provides outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax RS1500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-11 against the RS1500.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-11 and RS1500 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-11 and RS1500.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same resolution and you can expect comparable quality of photographs although you will need to take the launch date of the cameras into account.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography features
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography features
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
35
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-11
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
54
environment proof
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Sports photography camera
43
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
37
decent megapixels (14MP)
features tracking focus
environment proof
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-11
Travel photography with Pentax RS1500
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (200 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
environment proof
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography advice
40
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
40
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-11
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
25
rather wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus SZ-11Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-07-27 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 200 shots 260 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $253 $150