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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 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 Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Superseded the Pentax Q
  • Later Model is Pentax Q7
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

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").

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax Q10

 SZ-12 Q10 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Olympus SZ-12

 Q10 SZ-12 
ReleasedSeptember 2012January 2012Newer by 8 months
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax Q10

 SZ-12 Q10 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

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

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q10 Portrait photography features
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
48
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography information
Pentax Q10 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (200g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
Pentax Q10 Sports photography highlights
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
36
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography factors
Pentax Q10 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
60
lighter than competition (200g)
has built in flash
bad battery life (270 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
Landscape photography with Pentax Q10
40
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
54
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (270 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
Pentax Q10 Vlogging information
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (200g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax Q10
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax Q10
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax Q10
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-01-10 2012-09-10
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 lbs) 200 grams (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.9
DXO Low light score not tested 183
Other
Battery life 220 images 270 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $350 $350