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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Launched March 2011
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-S1
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The SZ-30MR was unveiled 5 years prior to the K-S2 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-30MR grades against the K-S2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax K-S2

 SZ-30MR K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 K-S2 SZ-30MR 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015March 2011More modern by 48 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-S2

 SZ-30MR K-S2 
Display size3"3"Same display size
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the K-S2.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and K-S2 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The pic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and K-S2.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR using its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-S2 will show extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography highlights
34
decent MP (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
78
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Pentax K-S2 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography factors
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
70
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.4 fps)
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (220 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (410 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (678g)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography information
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
Vlogging with Pentax K-S2
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
71
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax K-S2
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-03-02 2015-02-10
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 678g (1.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 410 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $279 $581