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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5

Portability
69
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Pentax X-5 front
Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 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
  • Released August 2012
  • Superseded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Successor is Olympus SP-820UZ
Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Released August 2012
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Pentax X-5, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the X-5 (16MP) is very comparable and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SP-820UZ was brought out around the same time to the X-5 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SP-820UZ matches up versus the X-5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Pentax X-5

 SP-820UZ X-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 X-5 SP-820UZ 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax X-5

 SP-820UZ X-5 
ReleasedAugust 2012August 2012Same age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-820UZ offers external measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) and the Pentax X-5 has dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") with a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Pentax X-5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SP-820UZ and the X-5.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-820UZ and X-5 is 69 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The photograph here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-820UZ and X-5.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Pentax X-5 to show greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent MP (14MP)
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
43
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detect focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography features
Pentax X-5 Street photography features
37
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than others in class (485g)
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition (595g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Sports photography with Pentax X-5
32
amazing zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent MP (14MP)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
52
amazing zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Travel photography with Pentax X-5
55
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
long reach (896mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (485 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
53
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (22mm)
very long zoom (580mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (595g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Landscape photography with Pentax X-5
35
reasonably wide (22mm)
decent sized screen (3")
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
47
you can focus manually
quite wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Vlogging camera
Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
25
reasonably wide (22mm)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (485 grams)
26
quite wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competition (595 grams)
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax X-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax X-5
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPentax X-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Pentax X-5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-08-21 2012-08-22
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) 22-580mm (26.4x)
Maximum aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 230k dot
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 15.00 m 9.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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) 595g (1.31 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $299 $230