Clicky

Pentax RZ10

 
Pentax Optio RZ10 front
 
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-280mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Pentax RZ10 summary

Pentax RZ10 is Pentax's Small Sensor Compact digital camera originally announced on July of 2011. It features a 14 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4288 x 3216.

The RZ10 is placed #108 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & overall #957 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should use our Advanced camera filter to find camera ratings based on your personal criteria.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Below is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Pentax RZ10 history

The Pentax RZ10 has a history of related digital cameras. Here, you can find all older and latest models along with important features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Pentax-Optio-RZ18 front thumbnailPentax RZ18
RZ10 vs RZ18
25-450mm
F3.5-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Pentax-Optio-RZ10 front thumbnailPentax RZ1028-280mm
F3.2-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Pentax-Optio-RS1500 front thumbnailPentax RS1500
RZ10 vs RS1500
28-110mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2011

Pentax RZ10 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of pros and cons of the Pentax RZ10 based on factors that are oftentimes considered crucial in a digital camera.

above average minimum ISO (80)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
flash built-in
good zoom range (28-280mm 10.0 x zoom)
great reach (280mm)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
reasonably wide (28mm)
you can focus manually
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't use external flash
doesn't have HDMI socket
doesn't have headphone socket
doesn't have microphone socket
doesn't have Timelapse function
has no phase detect auto focus
has no RAW support
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of shutter priority mode
low battery pack (178 CIPA)
manual exposure not available
max zoom aperture not good (f5.9)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
screen does not articulate
screen has low resolution (230 thousand dots)
screen is not selfie friendly
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Pentax RZ10 Sensor info

The sensor specification on the Pentax RZ10 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4288 x 3216 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can lead to cropping.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The CCD sensor has 14MP and includes a standard ISO range of 80 to 6400. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved so the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The image below illustrates the RZ10's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The RZ10 sensor has a crop factor of 5.9 and is showcased in green.

Pentax Optio RZ10 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax RZ10 dimensions

Pentax RZ10 weighs in at 0.39 pounds (178g / 6.28 ounces) & has outer size of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174g and the Pentax RZ10 is very much the same when compared to other competitors.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Below is a photo of the Pentax RZ10 beside a soda to help you get a sense of its scale.

Pentax Optio RZ10 dimensions scale

The top view here will highlight the button arrangement on the RZ10.

Pentax Optio RZ10 topview buttons dials

Pentax RZ10 Lens info

The RZ10 is equipped with a fixed lens featuring a focal range of 28-280mm giving it a 10.0 x zoom which isn't ideal however it will be helpful in a few conditions.

At the widest 28mm, it comes with an aperture of f3.2 which is rather slow and not the best for low light situations and you will likely find it hard to get good bokeh. You will probably also need to raise the ISO which results in noisy shots. On the tele end, 280mm is superb zoom and comes to f5.9 which is pretty slow and you might need to utilize slower shutter speeds.

Photography Glossary

Pentax RZ10 Connectivity

The RZ10 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes

Digital cameras that incorporate NFC or Bluetooth support can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to transfer files and in some cases alter camera settings without connecting physically to the camera.

Some applications even enable a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it can be attached to an external display. The majority of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack using the USB port.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Pentax RZ10 Video info

The max video resolution on the Pentax RZ10 is 1280 x 720 and you can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is terrible for today's requirements. You should really aim for at least FUll HD resolution for video. The camera does not have a microphone or headphone jack so you have got little control over the sound. It is perhaps best to purchase an alternative camera should you want decent sound for your videos.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Pentax RZ10 Weather Sealing

Pentax RZ10 provides environment proofing which makes it a great option for use in challenging locations. This can be particularly helpful in case you are not sure about the elements you may face in outdoor photography.

Pentax RZ10 Screen and Viewfinder

The Pentax RZ10 features a 2.7 inch fixed display supporting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Please be aware that the display screen has no touch support.

Pentax Optio RZ10 screen and viewfinder Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The View Finder details for Pentax RZ10 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite helpful in bright outdoor situations which will make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Pentax RZ10 Shutter info

Pentax RZ10 continuous shooting speed is 1.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000s.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Pentax RZ10 Flash and Hot shoe info

Pentax RZ10 comes with only in-built flash lacking external flash support.

Pentax RZ10 Autofocus info

Pentax RZ10 comes with just Contrast Based Autofocus & lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot faster & exact when compared to Contrast Based focusing.

The Sensor features 9 focus points to pick from. It also comes with Tracking Autofocus for moving objects. Pentax RZ10 has manual focusing in case it is needed in low light situations or you want more exact focusing control.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Pentax RZ10 Battery life

The battery pack (D-LI92) in the Pentax RZ10 is built to last for 178 shots based on the CIPA benchmarks which is lesser when compared to it's competitors. The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 has got the maximum (470) battery life in this category of cameras.

Underneath is a listing of Small Sensor Compact cameras which have the highest battery life:

Pentax RZ10 for specific styles of photography

The following bar chart indicates a rundown of the Pentax RZ10 for specific styles of photography. To learn more, browse to the specific section below.

Pentax RZ10 Portrait photography details

The Pentax RZ10 gets a points total of 35 which is lousy, meaning that it is just not suitable to use for portraits. Shooting portrait images favors heavily to sensor specs, support for RAW files along with the option to use external flash.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files

Street photography with Pentax RZ10

Having a above average rating of 61, the Pentax RZ10 is a good pick for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of picture quality and portability.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Pentax RZ10 Sports photography information

A lousy sports photography score of 40 means the Pentax RZ10 is just not suitable for taking photos of sports. A camera must have very good focusing plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (178 shots)
has no phase detect AF

Pentax RZ10 Travel photography highlights

Portability is super important when getting a camera for travel. All round, the Pentax RZ10 gets a nice 66 as a travel camera which is a very decent pick for your holidays.

Photography Glossary
weather sealing
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
long reach (280mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (178 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)

Pentax RZ10 Landscape photography advice

In case you're looking to choose a camera for landscape photographs, the most essential aspect is going to be image quality. The Pentax RZ10 at it's lousy rating of 43 for a landscape camera is just not suitable compared to it's rivals.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (178 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function

Pentax RZ10 Vlogging info

A camera for vlogging really should come with a articulating screen, microphone port and ideally IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Pentax RZ10 is just not suitable for vlogging as it comes to a lousy score of 28.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack

Pentax RZ10 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the RZ10, here is a number of the top rated cameras which fall under the class of Small Sensor Compact.

The line graph down below offers you a bird's eye view of the RZ10 versus it's top scoring competitors mentioned previously.

Here are a few more cameras you might look at as alternatives. To see a extensive comparison, go to the "compare" link.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Pentax
Model type
Pentax Optio RZ10
Category
Small Sensor Compact
Launched
2011-07-19
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4288 x 3216
RAW images
Highest native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
28-280mm (10.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.2-5.9
Macro focusing distance
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen size
2.7 inches
Screen resolution
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech
TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
4 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
2.80 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
178g (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions
97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
Other
Battery life
178 pictures
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery ID
D-LI92
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots
Single
Launch price
$200