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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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 MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax MX-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-15 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the SZ-15 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") use different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-15 was revealed at a similar time to the MX-1 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short view of how the SZ-15 matches up vs the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax MX-1

 SZ-15 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus SZ-15

 MX-1 SZ-15 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax MX-1

 SZ-15 MX-1 
RevealedJune 2013July 2013Similar generation
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-15 comes with physical measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-15 against the MX-1.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and MX-1 is 88 and 84 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The pic underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and MX-1.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-15 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-15 will offer you more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography info
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography info
44
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
42
focusing manually
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography info
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography info
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery (290 per charge)
low fps (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography information
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography information
68
lighter than average (250g)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
better than average battery (290 per charge)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (391g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
55
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
34
quite wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (250g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic support
33
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competition (391g)
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Pentax MX-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-21 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $200 $400