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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed March 2009
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax P70, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and P70 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was released 2 years after the P70 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the SZ-30MR scores versus the P70 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax P70

 SZ-30MR P70 
RevealedMarch 2011March 2009Newer by 25 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 P70 SZ-30MR 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax P70

 SZ-30MR P70 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR enjoys exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax P70 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax P70 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the P70.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and P70 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions merely by checking specifications. The picture below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and P70.

Plainly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus SZ-30MR to give you more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer SZ-30MR will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography details
Pentax P70 Portrait photography details
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography advice
Pentax P70 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography highlights
Pentax P70 Sports photography highlights
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography info
Pentax P70 Travel photography info
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
56
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Landscape photography camera
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery (220 shots)
no Timelapse function
32
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
Vlogging with Pentax P70
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no microphone support
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax P70
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax Optio P70
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax Optio P70
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2011-03-02 2009-03-02
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 155 grams (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $279 $200