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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released June 2013
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is very comparable but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-15 was launched very close to the K-5 IIs so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the K-5 IIs in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 SZ-15 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Olympus SZ-15

 K-5 IIs SZ-15 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 SZ-15 K-5 IIs 
LaunchedJune 2013June 2013Same age
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-15 offers physical measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-15 versus the K-5 IIs.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and K-5 IIs is 88 and 60 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The visual here may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and K-5 IIs.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The SZ-15 contains the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF harder.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Portrait photography camera
44
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography information
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography factors
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (23mm)
long zoom (483mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
65
environment proofing
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
49
focusing manually
decently wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 IIs
34
decently wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-06-21 2013-06-04
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lbs) 760 grams (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $200 $749