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Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Announced January 2014
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
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Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SP-100 and Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SP-100 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SP-100 was released 2 years after the RZ18 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SP-100 matches up versus the RZ18 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Pentax RZ18

 SP-100 RZ18 
IntroducedJanuary 2014September 2011Newer by 29 months

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus SP-100

 RZ18 SP-100 

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Pentax RZ18

 SP-100 RZ18 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-100 comes with physical dimensions of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") along with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Pentax RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-100 and Pentax RZ18 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SP-100 vs the RZ18.

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-100 and RZ18 is 63 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specs. The image below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-100 and RZ18.

All in all, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical resolution and you should expect similar quality of photographs though you should really take the production date of the products into consideration. The more recent SP-100 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-100
Portrait photography with Pentax RZ18
44
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detection focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
36
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-100
Street photography with Pentax RZ18
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competitors in class (594 grams)
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition (178g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Sports photography camera
53
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
features tracking focus
environment proof
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Travel photography features
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography features
53
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (594 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
71
lighter than competition (178g)
environment proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Landscape photography details
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography details
47
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment proof
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
29
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
heavier than competitors in class (594 grams)
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-100 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-01-29 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920k dot -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 594 grams (1.31 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $400 $210