Olympus XZ-10 vs Pentax K-7

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus XZ-10 vs Pentax K-7, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the XZ-10 (12MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is pretty well matched but the XZ-10 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-10 was released 3 years later than the K-7 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the XZ-10 matches up against the K-7 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus XZ-10 and Pentax K-7. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus XZ-10 Gallery and Pentax K-7 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-10 has physical measurements of 102mm x 61mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Pentax K-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Compare the Olympus XZ-10 vs Pentax K-7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the XZ-10 against the K-7.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the XZ-10 and K-7 is 91 and 60 respectively.

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-10 and K-7.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XZ-10 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-7 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern XZ-10 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.