Olympus SP-100 vs Pentax W80

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SP-100 and Pentax W80, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and W80 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SP-100 was unveiled 4 years later than the W80 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SP-100 matches up versus the W80 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus SP-100 and Pentax Optio W80. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-100 Gallery and Pentax W80 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-100 comes with exterior measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") having a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Pentax W80 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-100 and Pentax W80 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SP-100 and the W80.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-100 and W80 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The graphic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-100 and W80.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus SP-100 to show greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The newer SP-100 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.