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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Revealed June 2013
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-30
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Olympus SZ-15 versus Pentax K-50, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-15 was introduced 5 months earlier than the K-50 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-15 grades vs the K-50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax K-50

 SZ-15 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus SZ-15

 K-50 SZ-15 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-50

 SZ-15 K-50 
RevealedJune 2013November 2013Same generation
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 has outside measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-15 versus Pentax K-50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-15 and the K-50.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and K-50 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to see the gap in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The graphic here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and K-50.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have the same resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-15 comes with the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field trickier.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography advice
44
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Street photography information
Pentax K-50 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
great ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
heavier than competitors (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Pentax K-50 Travel photography info
68
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
weather proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery life (410 shots)
heavier than competitors (650g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography highlights
49
manual focus
rather wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-50 Vlogging advice
34
rather wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no external microphone jack
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic support
heavier than competitors (650g)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Pentax K-50
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-06-21 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $200 $610