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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they come with the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 10 months after the RS1500 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SZ-12 matches up versus the RS1500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax RS1500

 SZ-12 RS1500 
RevealedJanuary 2012March 2011More modern by 10 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus SZ-12

 RS1500 SZ-12 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax RS1500

 SZ-12 RS1500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 has got physical measurements 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 RS1500 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ-12 against the RS1500.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and RS1500 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and RS1500.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical resolution therefore you can expect similar quality of pictures but you will want to consider the launch date of the products into consideration. The fresher SZ-12 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography highlights
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
35
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
54
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography factors
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography information
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
40
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
40
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
weather sealing
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging features
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
lighter than others in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
25
rather wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-01-10 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 226g (0.50 pounds) 157g (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 All around 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 220 photos 260 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $350 $150