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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Introduced January 2012
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
  • Released July 2013
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor size.

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The SZ-12 was revealed 17 months prior to the MX-1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SZ-12 grades vs the MX-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax MX-1

 SZ-12 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 MX-1 SZ-12 
ReleasedJuly 2013January 2012More modern by 17 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax MX-1

 SZ-12 MX-1 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 features external 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 MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 versus the MX-1.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and MX-1 is 89 and 84 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes just by looking at technical specs. The picture below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and MX-1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-12 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Olympus SZ-12 will give you extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
MP count good (14MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
42
you can focus manually
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography info
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery (290 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
61
great battery (290 shots)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (391 grams)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (290 shots)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
33
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no external mic support
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax MX-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
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 score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 220 photos 290 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-Li-106
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 1 1
Retail cost $350 $400