Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax K10D

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax K10D, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and K10D (10MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and K10D (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was manufactured 4 years later than the K10D and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax K10D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ-30MR grades against the K10D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax K10D. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-30MR Gallery and Pentax K10D Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers external 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 K10D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax K10D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-30MR and the K10D.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and K10D is 89 and 59 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and K10D.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus SZ-30MR will provide greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SZ-30MR should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.