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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax K-5 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the K-5 II (16MP) is very comparable but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and K-5 II (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 3 years prior to the K-5 II and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SZ-30MR scores vs the K-5 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax K-5 II

 SZ-30MR K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 K-5 II SZ-30MR 
ReleasedJune 2013March 2011Fresher by 27 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-5 II

 SZ-30MR K-5 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR features physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 II has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax K-5 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the K-5 II.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and K-5 II is 89 and 60 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The graphic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and K-5 II.

All in all, both of these cameras have the same resolution but different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR has got the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field harder. The older SZ-30MR will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography information
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography information
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Pentax K-5 II
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 II
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
65
weather proof
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography details
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography details
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax K-5 II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-03-02 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Prime II
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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 760 grams (1.68 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1235
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 980 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $279 $830