Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax K20D

Here is a thorough assessment of the Olympus SP-100 versus Pentax K20D, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SP-100 (16MP) and the K20D (15MP) is fairly comparable but the SP-100 (1/2.3") and K20D (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-100 was brought out 5 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SP-100 matches up versus the K20D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus SP-100 & Pentax K20D. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-100 Gallery & Pentax K20D Gallery.

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-100 enjoys external measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Pentax K20D has proportions of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-100 versus Pentax K20D in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the SP-100 vs the K20D.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-100 and K20D is 63 and 59 respectively.

Usually, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-100 and K20D.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SP-100 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus SP-100 will provide extra detail having its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The newer SP-100 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.