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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Pentax X90 front
Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 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 X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Released July 2010
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Pentax X90, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the X90 (12MP) is very well matched and they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 19 months later than the X90 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-12 grades against the X90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Pentax X90

 SZ-12 X90 
ReleasedJanuary 2012July 2010Fresher by 19 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Olympus SZ-12

 X90 SZ-12 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax X90

 SZ-12 X90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-12 comes with exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax X90 has proportions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") along with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Pentax X90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the X90.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-12 and X90 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-12 and X90.

Clearly, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-12 to give greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger SZ-12 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Portrait photography camera
33
resolution is good (14MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
29
manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography details
Pentax X90 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
Sports photography with Pentax X90
40
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
includes tracking focus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
42
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
Travel photography with Pentax X90
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
no Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax X90 as a Landscape photography camera
40
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
35
manual focus
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging info
Pentax X90 Vlogging info
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
23
reasonably wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Pentax X90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Pentax X90
 Olympus SZ-12Pentax X90
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Pentax X90
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-01-10 2010-07-06
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
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) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 9.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 428 grams (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B D-L106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $350 $350