Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K10D

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K10D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the SH-1 (16MP) and K10D (10MP) and the SH-1 (1/2.3") and K10D (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The SH-1 was revealed 7 years after the K10D which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K10D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SH-1 scores against the K10D in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SH-1 and Pentax K10D. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-1 Gallery and Pentax K10D Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-1 offers physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Pentax K10D has sizing of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K10D in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the SH-1 vs the K10D.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-1 and K10D is 88 and 59 respectively.

Normally, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through specs. The picture underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-1 and K10D.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-1 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus SH-1 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics way more aggressively. The newer SH-1 provides an edge in sensor innovation.