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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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 H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Released January 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the H90 (12MP) is relatively close and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was manufactured 24 months after the H90 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SZ-12 scores vs the H90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax H90

 SZ-12 H90 
ReleasedJanuary 2012January 2010More modern by 24 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Olympus SZ-12

 H90 SZ-12 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax H90

 SZ-12 H90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has got outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax H90 has proportions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-12 vs the H90.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and H90 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The pic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and H90.

Plainly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Olympus SZ-12 to render extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The fresher SZ-12 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Pentax H90 Portrait photography details
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
27
has manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
Pentax H90 Street photography advice
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography details
Pentax H90 Sports photography details
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
Pentax H90 Travel photography info
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
57
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Pentax H90 Landscape photography advice
40
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
36
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging advice
Pentax H90 Vlogging advice
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax H90
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax Optio H90
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-01-10 2010-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range - 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 226g (0.50 pounds) 153g (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $350 $150