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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Superseded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-820UZ
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Launched June 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax KF
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 Overview

Following is a extended analysis of the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and K-70 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-820UZ was announced 4 years prior to the K-70 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SP-820UZ grades versus the K-70 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Pentax K-70

 SP-820UZ K-70 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 K-70 SP-820UZ 
LaunchedJune 2016August 2012More modern by 46 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax K-70

 SP-820UZ K-70 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-820UZ provides outer measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Pentax K-70 has sizing of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") along with a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SP-820UZ and the K-70.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and K-70 is 69 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by reading through technical specs. The picture here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-820UZ and K-70.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SP-820UZ having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-70 will resolve greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SP-820UZ is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography details
Pentax K-70 Portrait photography details
34
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
80
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-70 as a Street photography camera
37
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others (485 grams)
71
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
above average ISO range (102,400)
heavier than competition (688g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography factors
Pentax K-70 Sports photography factors
33
long zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent MP (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
bad battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Travel photography with Pentax K-70
55
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (22mm)
great reach (896mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (485 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
64
weather sealing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
bad battery power (410 per charge)
heavier than competition (688g)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-70 Landscape photography factors
35
really wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average ISO range (102,400)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging info
Pentax K-70 Vlogging info
25
really wide (22mm)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic port
heavier than others (485g)
71
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
heavier than competition (688g)
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax K-70
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPentax K-70
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Pentax K-70
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-08-21 2016-06-08
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 102400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 485g (1.07 pounds) 688g (1.52 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 410 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $299 $649