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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-820UZ
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Pentax RS1500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is fairly close and they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-820UZ was introduced 18 months later than the RS1500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SP-820UZ scores against the RS1500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Pentax RS1500

 SP-820UZ RS1500 
AnnouncedAugust 2012March 2011More recent by 18 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 RS1500 SP-820UZ 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax RS1500

 SP-820UZ RS1500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-820UZ has got external dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-820UZ and the RS1500.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and RS1500 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements just by researching specifications. The photograph here will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-820UZ and RS1500.

To sum up, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical MP and you should expect comparable quality of files but you will need to factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more modern SP-820UZ should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography factors
34
megapixel count decent (14MP)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
35
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
37
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (485 grams)
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
37
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography info
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography info
55
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (22mm)
very long reach (896mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (485 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
67
environment proof
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography info
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography info
35
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3")
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
40
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14MP)
environment proof
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Vlogging camera
25
reasonably wide (22mm)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (485g)
25
pretty wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 485 gr (1.07 lbs) 157 gr (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 - 260 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $299 $150