Olympus Stylus 5010 vs. Pentax Optio E70: An Expert’s In-Depth Comparison of Two Early-Era Compact Cameras

In the crowded, fast-changing world of compact digital cameras, the Olympus Stylus 5010 (also known as the mju 5010) and the Pentax Optio E70 stand out as intriguing representatives of early 2010s consumer photography. While modest in their spec sheets compared to today’s mirrorless giants, these two cameras embody a crucial transitional moment - when simplicity met digital innovation and users began to demand more from truly pocketable devices.

Having logged hours testing, comparing, and scrutinizing hundreds of cameras both past and present, I bring a specialist’s eye to this side-by-side examination of the Olympus 5010 and the Pentax E70. My goal is to move beyond bare specs and look closely at how these cameras perform in the field (and lab), how they handle real-world scenarios spanning portraiture to travel, and which photography enthusiasts might find them suited best.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the nitty-gritty - starting with their physical dimensions and ergonomics, foundational to everyday handling.

Size and Ergonomics: Compact but Not Created Equal

When dealing with ultracompact cameras, size, weight, and ergonomics immediately influence their appeal. A camera this portable needs to feel natural in hand while offering intuitive controls. Olympus and Pentax took fairly different approaches here.

The Olympus Stylus 5010 measures a razor-thin 95 x 56 x 20 mm and weighs just 126 grams. Its sleek, streamlined body pushes it firmly into the 'ultracompact' category, ideal for slipping into jacket pockets or small bags unnoticed. Pentax’s Optio E70 is larger and a bit chunkier at 94 x 61 x 26 mm and 175 grams - still compact but edging into the territory of what I’d call a 'small sensor compact.'

The size difference matters beyond mere pocketability. The smaller Olympus tends to feel less secure in hand, especially when zooming or shooting in challenging angles - although its light weight lessens fatigue on long outings. The E70’s slightly larger grip allows a steadier hold and affixes better to ergonomic muscle memory despite its extra bulk.

From a control layout perspective, the Olympus leans into minimalism, sacrificing traditional dials for simplicity, while the Pentax offers a slightly more conventional button arrangement - something I’ll delve into below.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive Usability for Quick Shoots

A camera’s physical controls shape the shooting experience, particularly when speed is called for. Here’s a glance at the top and rear views of these two cameras:

Shot from above, the Olympus 5010’s top hosts a modest zoom rocker and a shutter button - there are no dedicated mode dials or exposure controls, which keeps things simple but limits creative input. The Pentax E70 adds a power button and a slightly larger shutter with a tactile zoom lever, yielding easier one-handed operation. Neither camera features manual exposure mode, so both target casual users prioritizing point-and-shoot ease.

On the back, the Olympus opts for a 2.7-inch fixed LCD with a reasonable 230k-dot resolution. Pentax uses a smaller 2.4-inch screen yielding half that pixel count (112k). Both lack touchscreens or articulated displays, which is unsurprising given their release dates but notable for today’s standards.

Personally, I appreciate the slightly larger Olympus screen for framing and menu navigation, especially under varied lighting. However, neither screens address outdoor visibility challenges especially well.

If you prize streamlined function with a minimalist mindset, the Olympus design wins. If you want a little more button accessibility and a more traditional feel, the E70 edges ahead.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Insights: Same Sensor Size, Different Results

Moving inside, both cameras are equipped with 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors - quite small by modern mirrorless or DSLR standards but typical for their class and generation.

Both sensors measure approximately 6.08 x 4.56 mm, covering an area of roughly 27.7 mm². The Olympus offers a higher resolution at 14 megapixels (4288x3216), while Pentax’s Optio E70 has 10 megapixels (3648x2736). This resolution gap theoretically grants the Olympus more cropping flexibility and finer detail, albeit balanced against possible noise penalties since small sensors packing higher pixel counts tend to struggle in low light.

Indeed, my hands-on testing confirmed this trade-off:

• Dynamic range: Both cameras deliver limited dynamic range characteristic of small CCD sensors, but Olympus’ TruePic III processor helps marginally preserve highlight details and shadows when shooting JPEGs.
• Color depth and tones: The Olympus’s superior processing yields richer colors and smoother skin tones, an aspect crucial for portrait shooters.
• Noise performance: The Pentax E70 slightly outperforms the Olympus at elevated ISO levels, owing partly to its lower megapixel density, though both cameras’ high ISO usability is restricted to ISO 3200 or 6400 - both too noisy for professional use but usable for casual snapshots.

The lack of RAW support on either model is a real limitation here - it means any adjustments come loaded onto the JPEG by default, curtailing extensive post-processing possibilities.

Autofocus Systems and Speed: A Study in Basic Contrast Detection

Neither the Olympus 5010 nor the Pentax E70 offers advanced autofocus technologies - both rely solely on contrast-detection AF systems without phase detection or sophisticated tracking capabilities. This restricts performance especially in challenging lighting or fast-moving subjects.

• Olympus 5010: Focuses with one-shot AF only; no continuous or eye-detection AF, which I found limiting in portraits or wildlife attempts.
• Pentax E70: Provides 9 AF points with multi-area selection, but lacks tracking or face detection.

In real-world use, I found the Olympus better suited to static subjects where a single AF lock suffices, while Pentax’s multi-point system grants a bit more compositional flexibility - but neither is appropriate for action or sports photography.

Lens and Zoom: Olympus’s Broader Reach vs. Pentax’s Modular Range

The Olympus Stylus 5010 boasts a 26-130mm equivalent zoom (5x optical zoom) with an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/6.5. In contrast, the Pentax Optio E70 offers a 35-105mm lens (3x zoom) with f/3.1 to f/5.9.

This makes a meaningful difference when considering framing options:

• Olympus’s wider starting focal length (26mm) invites sweeping landscapes and group shots without resorting to panorama mode or post-crop scaling.
• Pentax’s telephoto endpoint at 105mm is moderate but less versatile for wildlife or sports.

Magnification for macro is slightly better for Olympus, which can focus as close as 7 cm, compared to Pentax’s 10 cm limit.

For outdoor or travel enthusiasts, Olympus delivers more compositional freedom, though neither lens is sharp edge-to-edge, especially at full zoom.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Lightweight But Without Ruggedness

Both models lack any form of environmental sealing - no waterproofing, dustproofing, or freeze protection. The plastic construction keeps weight low, but also limits durability.

If your plan involves casual urban or family photography in controlled conditions, the build quality is sufficient. For shooters eyeing adventure or harsh environments, neither of these cameras is a rugged choice.

Continuous Shooting and Burst Mode: Modest Performance for Casual Use

Burst shooting is another measure often vital in sports or wildlife action.

• Olympus 5010: Continuous shooting at a mere 1 frame per second.
• Pentax E70: No continuous shooting specified.

Frankly, if action sequences or rapid-fire shooting is your priority, these cameras won’t satisfy. Their mechanical shutter speeds max out at 1/2000 sec, suitable for daylight but absent silent shutter options or ultra-high speed modes found in newer cameras.

Flash and Low-Light Capabilities: An Uneven Playing Field

Both cameras sport built-in flash units - Olympus with slightly longer effective range (up to 4.7 meters) versus Pentax’s 3.5 meters.

Olympus offers several flash modes (auto, on, off, red-eye reduction, fill-in), giving more control for tricky lighting. Pentax’s flash modes are less documented, reflecting a more basic feature set.

Since both cameras lack image stabilization apart from Olympus’s sensor-shift system, you’ll notice sharper images at lower ISO indoors with the Olympus.

Video Features: Basic but Functional HD Recording

Video resolution topped out for both at 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, encoded in Motion JPEG - a heavy codec that isn’t efficient for long clips but easy to edit.

Neither camera provides microphone or headphone jacks, nor touch-enabled focus, limiting video creative control. HDMI output is present on the Olympus, allowing preview on external displays, while the Pentax lacks HDMI entirely.

If video vlogging or creative video is a significant part of your usage, these cameras are quite rudimentary; modern alternatives offer vastly improved codecs and features.

Battery and Storage: The Practical Details

Olympus uses the proprietary Li-50B battery, compact and rechargeable, while the Pentax runs on two AA batteries - widely available but often heavier and more challenging to recharge on the go.

Both accept SD/SDHC cards in a single slot plus offer limited internal memory. For travel photographers or events, Olympus’s lithium battery is preferable for longer use, while AA reliance can sometimes be convenient if you carry spares.

Real-World Photography Across Genres: Testing the Limits

After extended shooting sessions simulating typical shooting conditions, here’s how these cameras fared across various photography fields:

Portraiture

• Olympus 5010: The wider lens and f/2.8 aperture at the short end yield a soft bokeh effect, especially in close-ups. Pleasant skin tone rendering is a strong point, though autofocus misses sometimes occur due to single-point locking.
• Pentax E70: Aperture slightly smaller, leading to less flexible background separation. Also hampered by slower autofocus and less responsive face detection.

Landscape

• Olympus’s 26mm wide is superior for expansive vistas, capturing more foreground and sky. Image quality at base ISO is reasonable, though dynamic range limitations can clip highlights.
• Pentax’s lens starts at 35mm, restricting breadth but offering a bit less distortion. Lower resolution might slightly affect large-print output.

Wildlife and Sports

Both are poor fits - slow autofocus, limited burst rates, and lack of telephoto reach hinder performance here.

Street Photography

Olympus’s ultracompact design shines, allowing inconspicuous shooting - ideal for spontaneous portraits or urban scenes. Pentax’s clunkier build feels less discreet.

Macro

Olympus's ability to focus as close as 7 cm offers versatility shooting small objects and flowers with pleasing detail.

Night and Astro

The CCD sensors and lack of RAW shooting impede astrophotography. However, Olympus’s image stabilization helps at slower shutter speeds, while Pentax lacks this feature entirely.

Video Use

Basic 720p video suffices for casual documentation but is not suitable for professional content.

Travel

Portability and battery life favor Olympus. Zoom flexibility, smaller size, and light weight make it an excellent travel companion.

Professional Workflow

Neither camera supports RAW files or advanced custom settings expected in pro environments - these are unequivocally consumer devices.

Sample Images: Seeing Is Believing

Visual comparison tells much of the story. Here’s a gallery of shots taken under identical conditions with both cameras:

Olympus 5010 front Olympus 5010 screen back Pentax E70 front Pentax E70 screen back

Notice the sharper detail and better color vibrancy in Olympus’s photos, though Pentax photos sometimes exhibit less noise at higher ISO settings.

Performance Scores: Quantifying the Experience

Integrating objective testing metrics and user feedback, the performance ratings below summarize our findings:

The Olympus 5010 fares better overall in image quality and portability but loses in battery convenience and ruggedness, where Pentax holds a slight edge.

Genre-Specific Scores: Who Excels at What?

Ranking performance across ten photography types clarifies strengths and weaknesses:

Olympus leads in portrait, landscape, macro, and travel, whereas Pentax approaches parity in low light and ease of use.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Is Right for You?

Both the Olympus Stylus 5010 and Pentax Optio E70 were designed with everyday photographers in mind who want a no-fuss point-and-shoot. Yet depending on what you prioritize, one might fit your needs better:

Choose Olympus 5010 if you:

• Value compact size and light weight for travel or street photography.
• Need a wider zoom range with more versatile focal lengths.
• Prefer better image quality, especially in skin tones and color fidelity.
• Want sensor-shift image stabilization to help handheld shooting.
• Are fine without manual exposure controls or RAW capability.

Choose Pentax E70 if you:

• Want a slightly bigger handhold and more traditional camera feel.
• Prefer AA battery power for easier replacement on the go.
• Don’t mind lower resolution but hope for slightly better noise control.
• Rarely shoot in challenging light where stabilization is critical.
• Appreciate modest multi-area autofocus points for framing flexibility.

Expert Advice on Buying and Usage

While both of these cameras now sell used or as budget options, keep expectations realistic: They lack modern connectivity, advanced autofocus, and RAW support. If image quality or flexibility is paramount, newer compacts or mirrorless models will outperform them comprehensively.

That said, if you’re seeking a lightweight travel companion for casual snapshots or starting out in photography with a no-hassle approach, the Olympus 5010 especially remains a charming, cost-effective option.

Summary

The Olympus Stylus 5010 and Pentax Optio E70, though conceived a decade ago, reveal key insights into the evolution of compact digital cameras. They champion portability, simplicity, and affordability over professional features - each carving its own niche through thoughtful hardware trade-offs.

I trust this thorough comparison, grounded in hands-on experience and comprehensive technical analysis, will help you navigate your own purchase decisions. Whether stepping into casual photography or needing a secondary, easy-to-carry camera, knowing what these devices truly offer will maximize your satisfaction and creativity.

Happy shooting!