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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Pentax X70 front
Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 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 X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Launched March 2009
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and X70 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 2 years after the X70 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-30MR matches up against the X70 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Pentax X70

 SZ-30MR X70 
LaunchedMarch 2011March 2009More modern by 25 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 X70 SZ-30MR 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax X70

 SZ-30MR X70 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR enjoys outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax X70 has measurements of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") having a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the X70.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and X70 is 89 and 71 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The picture here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and X70.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Olympus SZ-30MR to offer you extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern SZ-30MR is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
Pentax X70 Portrait photography highlights
34
MP count good (16MP)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
28
focusing manually
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography highlights
Pentax X70 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
46
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Pentax X70
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
50
long zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
Pentax X70 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (226g)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
very long reach (624mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Pentax X70
41
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
35
focusing manually
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging info
Pentax X70 Vlogging info
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic support
24
rather wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Pentax X70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Pentax X70
 Olympus SZ-30MRPentax X70
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Pentax X70
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-03-02 2009-03-02
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 50
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
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
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-624mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 9.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 410 grams (0.90 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5")
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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $279 $200