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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q 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
  • Announced March 2011
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Introduced June 2011
  • Newer Model is Pentax Q10
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax Q, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and Q (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was brought out 3 months prior to the Q and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short view of how the SZ-30MR scores against the Q with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 SZ-30MR Q 

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

 Q SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

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

 SZ-30MR Q 
IntroducedMarch 2011June 2011Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides outside 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) and the Pentax Q has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Pentax Q in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-30MR against the Q.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and Q is 89 and 93 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The visual below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and Q.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus SZ-30MR to offer you more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
Pentax Q Portrait photography features
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
45
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Pentax Q Sports photography info
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography info
Pentax Q Travel photography info
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
57
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography factors
Pentax Q Landscape photography factors
41
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
51
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
34
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax Q
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax Q
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax Q
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-03-02 2011-06-23
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000s
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 180 gr (0.40 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 47
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 189
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 230 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $279 $695