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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed March 2011
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-01, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the K-01 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and K-01 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-30MR was announced 15 months prior to the K-01 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the SZ-30MR grades against the K-01 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax K-01

 SZ-30MR K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 K-01 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedMay 2012March 2011More recent by 15 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-01

 SZ-30MR K-01 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-30MR has physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-01 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the K-01.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and K-01 is 89 and 76 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out specs. The photograph here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and K-01.

All in all, both of those cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR features the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field harder. The older SZ-30MR will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography info
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography info
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography highlights
Pentax K-01 Street photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography information
Pentax K-01 Sports photography information
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery power (540 shots)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Pentax K-01
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
65
great battery power (540 per charge)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Landscape photography camera
41
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (540 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
Vlogging with Pentax K-01
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (561g)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-01
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax K-01
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax K-01
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-03-02 2012-05-30
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 81
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 561 grams (1.24 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1135
Other
Battery life 220 photos 540 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $279 $899