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Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Announced January 2011
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Launched May 2012
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax K-01, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and K-01 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The XZ-1 was introduced 16 months before the K-01 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the XZ-1 grades versus the K-01 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Pentax K-01

 XZ-1 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus XZ-1

 K-01 XZ-1 
LaunchedMay 2012January 2011Fresher by 16 months
Screen resolution921k614kSharper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax K-01

 XZ-1 K-01 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-1 has got outside dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has measurements of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") and a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

See the Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax K-01 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the XZ-1 vs the K-01.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and K-01 is 88 and 76 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing purely by looking at specifications. The visual below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and K-01.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XZ-1 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-01 will give you more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older XZ-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Portrait photography camera
45
has manual focus
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Street photography info
Pentax K-01 Street photography info
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
heavier than average in class (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-01 Sports photography details
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
good battery (320 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
has no phase detect AF
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-01 Travel photography factors
62
good battery (320 CIPA)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
heavier than average in class (561 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography advice
54
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
good battery (320 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
no Timelapse function
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (540 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging features
Pentax K-01 Vlogging features
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (561g)
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus XZ-1Pentax K-01
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Pentax K-01
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-01-26 2012-05-30
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3664 x 2752 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology OLED TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 275 gr (0.61 pounds) 561 gr (1.24 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 34 79
DXO Color Depth rating 18.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.9
DXO Low light rating 117 1135
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 540 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $567 $899