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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Old Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Successor is Olympus SP-820UZ
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax MX-1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-820UZ was launched 10 months before the MX-1 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the SP-820UZ grades vs the MX-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Pentax MX-1

 SP-820UZ MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 MX-1 SP-820UZ 
LaunchedJuly 2013August 2012More recent by 10 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax MX-1

 SP-820UZ MX-1 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-820UZ has got exterior dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SP-820UZ compared to the MX-1.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and MX-1 is 69 and 84 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out specs. The graphic here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-820UZ and MX-1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-820UZ featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus SP-820UZ will provide more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older SP-820UZ will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography highlights
34
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
42
manual focus
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
37
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than others (485g)
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography details
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
33
excellent zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
good battery power (290 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
55
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (22mm)
long zoom (896mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (485 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
61
good battery power (290 shots)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (391g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography features
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography features
35
rather wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
55
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
good battery power (290 per charge)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
25
rather wide (22mm)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than others (485 grams)
33
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Pentax MX-1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-21 2013-07-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 15.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 485g (1.07 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $299 $400