Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax E85

Following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus XZ-1 versus Pentax E85, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the E85 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and E85 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The XZ-1 was released 17 months after the E85 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the XZ-1 scores vs the E85 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax Optio E85. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Pentax E85 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-1 has exterior measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Pentax E85 has measurements of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check the Olympus XZ-1 versus Pentax E85 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the XZ-1 against the E85.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and E85 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Typically, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at specs. The image below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-1 and E85.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-1 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax E85 will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern XZ-1 will have an edge in sensor innovation.