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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 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 Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus 550WP and Pentax Q-S1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the 550WP (10MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is relatively close but the 550WP (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") possess different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The 550WP was unveiled 6 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the 550WP grades against the Q-S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Pentax Q-S1

 550WP Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus 550WP

 Q-S1 550WP 
RevealedAugust 2014January 2009More recent by 67 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Pentax Q-S1

 550WP Q-S1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 550WP enjoys external dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Olympus 550WP and Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the 550WP vs the Q-S1.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 550WP and Q-S1 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through technical specs. The graphic here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550WP and Q-S1.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 550WP having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax Q-S1 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older 550WP will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography information
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
46
manual focus
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (203g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP Sports photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography factors
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
37
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery life (250 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP Travel photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography advice
55
weather proofing
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
lighter than others (203g)
built-in flash
terrible battery life (250 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography advice
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5")
no manual control
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery life (250 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging details
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging details
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing microphone support
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (203g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
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Olympus 550WP vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPentax Q-S1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus 550WP Pentax Q-S1
Also referred to as mju 550WP -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-01-07 2014-08-04
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Q Engine
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 38-114mm (3.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.0 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Amount of lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.9 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167g (0.37 pounds) 203g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 - 250 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $399 $250