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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1 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
  • Released July 2011
Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Announced July 2014
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the XG-1 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-11 was introduced 4 years before the XG-1 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-11 matches up versus the XG-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 SZ-11 XG-1 

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

 XG-1 SZ-11 
AnnouncedJuly 2014July 2011More recent by 36 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

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

 SZ-11 XG-1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-11 enjoys outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax XG-1 has measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") having a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-11 and the XG-1.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and XG-1 is 89 and 66 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at specifications. The photograph underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-11 and XG-1.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Pentax XG-1 to give you extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SZ-11 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography information
Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography information
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
40
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography information
Pentax XG-1 Street photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (567g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Sports photography camera
43
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
45
long zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography advice
Pentax XG-1 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
52
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (1248mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (240 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
40
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
45
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery life (240 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging features
Pentax XG-1 Vlogging features
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
25
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
heavier than competition in class (567g)
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Pentax XG-1
 Olympus SZ-11Pentax XG-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Pentax XG-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-07-27 2014-07-15
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance 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), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 567 grams (1.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
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 photographs 240 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $253 $599