Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax Q10, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is very similar and they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-12 was revealed 8 months prior to the Q10 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the SZ-12 scores vs the Q10 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax Q10. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery and Pentax Q10 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-12 offers external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax Q10 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax Q10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ-12 and the Q10.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and Q10 is 89 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over a spec sheet. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and Q10.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-12 to offer you extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged SZ-12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.