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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released January 2012
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus SZ-12 versus Pentax K-01, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the K-01 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and K-01 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-12 was brought out 4 months earlier than the K-01 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-12 grades versus the K-01 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax K-01

 SZ-12 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus SZ-12

 K-01 SZ-12 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax K-01

 SZ-12 K-01 
IntroducedJanuary 2012May 2012Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-12 offers outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-01 has specifications of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") having a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 versus Pentax K-01 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the K-01.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and K-01 is 89 and 76 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The photograph below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and K-01.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-01 will give extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography details
34
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
features face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
heavier than competition in class (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Pentax K-01 Sports photography info
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (540 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (226g)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
heavier than competition in class (561g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Landscape photography camera
40
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery (220 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (540 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-01 as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax K-01
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax K-01
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-01-10 2012-05-30
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 81
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 561g (1.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1135
Other
Battery life 220 images 540 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $350 $899