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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Revealed January 2012
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released February 2010
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax W90, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the W90 (12MP) is fairly close and they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was released 23 months later than the W90 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SZ-12 grades against the W90 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax W90

 SZ-12 W90 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2010More recent by 23 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus SZ-12

 W90 SZ-12 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax W90

 SZ-12 W90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 enjoys physical 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 W90 has dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax W90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the W90.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and W90 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and W90.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-12 to result in greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern SZ-12 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography factors
Pentax W90 Portrait photography factors
34
decent MP (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
Street photography with Pentax W90
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
54
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Pentax W90
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
24
environment proofing
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Pentax W90 Travel photography details
65
lighter than others (226g)
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
64
environment proofing
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography advice
Pentax W90 Landscape photography advice
40
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
37
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
environment proofing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
Pentax W90 Vlogging information
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than others (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax W90
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax Optio W90
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Revealed 2012-01-10 2010-02-24
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 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 metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 grams (0.50 lb) 164 grams (0.36 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 images -
Style 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $350 $120