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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
  • Also referred to as mju 550WP
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus 550WP and Pentax K-x, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the 550WP (10MP) and the K-x (12MP) is fairly close but the 550WP (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The 550WP was unveiled 11 months before the K-x so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the 550WP scores versus the K-x for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Pentax K-x

 550WP K-x 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Olympus 550WP

 K-x 550WP 
RevealedDecember 2009January 2009More modern by 11 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Pentax K-x

 550WP K-x 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus 550WP has physical measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has specifications of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus 550WP and Pentax K-x in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the 550WP and the K-x.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 550WP and K-x is 94 and 69 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and K-x.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 550WP having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-x will render greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged 550WP will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Portrait photography camera
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography factors
Pentax K-x Street photography factors
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP Sports photography information
Pentax K-x Sports photography information
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (1,900 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proof
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
54
better than average battery pack (1,900 shots)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography info
Pentax K-x Landscape photography info
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5")
no manual mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (1,900 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus 550WP
Vlogging with Pentax K-x
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Pentax K-x
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPentax K-x
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus 550WP Pentax K-x
Also called mju 550WP -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-01-07 2009-12-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 38-114mm (3.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.0 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 16.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167 gr (0.37 pounds) 580 gr (1.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 811
Other
Battery life - 1900 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $399 $600