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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax Q7 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 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 Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax Q10
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the Q7 (12MP) is very close but the SZ-12 (1/2.3") and Q7 (1/1.7") feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-12 was announced 19 months earlier than the Q7 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the SZ-12 grades vs the Q7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax Q7

 SZ-12 Q7 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Olympus SZ-12

 Q7 SZ-12 
ReleasedAugust 2013January 2012More recent by 19 months
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax Q7

 SZ-12 Q7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-12 features outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q7 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-12 versus the Q7.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-12 and Q7 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing technical specs. The visual below will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-12 and Q7.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-12 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus SZ-12 will render greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older SZ-12 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography details
Pentax Q7 Portrait photography details
34
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
48
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors (200g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography details
Pentax Q7 Sports photography details
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 shots)
no phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery life (250 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography highlights
Pentax Q7 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition (226g)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery pack (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
60
lighter than competitors (200 grams)
has built in flash
not so great battery life (250 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Landscape photography camera
40
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery life (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
Vlogging with Pentax Q7
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (200g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing mic port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax Q7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax Q7
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax Q7
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-12 Pentax Q7
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-01-10 2013-08-08
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 4.90 m (ISO100/m)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 200 gr (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 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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (12 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $350 $480