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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Released March 2011
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push 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
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is relatively close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and K-5 IIs (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-30MR was brought out 3 years earlier than the K-5 IIs which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SZ-30MR grades versus the K-5 IIs in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SZ-30MR K-5 IIs 

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

 K-5 IIs SZ-30MR 
IntroducedJune 2013March 2011More modern by 27 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

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

 SZ-30MR K-5 IIs 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

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

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications 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-30MR versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR against the K-5 IIs.

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

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and K-5 IIs is 89 and 60 respectively.

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

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

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and K-5 IIs.

As you can see, both of those cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR features the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF more challenging. The more aged SZ-30MR will be behind in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Portrait photography camera
34
good MP (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
41
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery (220 shots)
missing Timelapse function
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no low pass filter
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-03-02 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Prime II
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 760g (1.68 lb)
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 Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1208
Other
Battery life 220 shots 980 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $279 $749