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Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41
Olympus XZ-1 front
 
Pentax X90 front
Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Pentax X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Revealed July 2010
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 Overview

The following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax X90, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the X90 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and X90 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-1 was introduced 7 months after the X90 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the XZ-1 scores vs the X90 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Pentax X90

 XZ-1 X90 
RevealedJanuary 2011July 2010Newer by 7 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Olympus XZ-1

 X90 XZ-1 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax X90

 XZ-1 X90 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-1 has 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) and the Pentax X90 has specifications of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

See the Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax X90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the XZ-1 against the X90.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and X90 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specifications. The image here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and X90.

Plainly, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax X90 will resolve greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent XZ-1 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax X90 Portrait photography factors
45
focusing manually
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
29
has manual focus
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Street photography details
Pentax X90 Street photography details
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (275g)
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography information
Pentax X90 Sports photography information
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
great battery pack (320 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect auto focus
42
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus XZ-1
Travel photography with Pentax X90
62
great battery pack (320 shots)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (275g)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
great reach (676mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography information
Pentax X90 Landscape photography information
54
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (320 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
does not have Timelapse mode
35
has manual focus
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging advice
Pentax X90 Vlogging advice
31
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
23
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus XZ-1 vs Pentax X90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-1 and Pentax X90
 Olympus XZ-1Pentax X90
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus XZ-1 Pentax X90
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-26 2010-07-06
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 44.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3664 x 2752 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 614 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 9.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 275 gr (0.61 lb) 428 gr (0.94 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 34 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 18.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 117 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-50B D-L106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $567 $350