• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Pentax K-01 advantages over Olympus SZ-15

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.81 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 500 vs 230 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    921k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 2 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.9 fps vs 0.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 1600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Olympus SZ-15 advantages over Pentax K-01

  • Less expensive
    $200 vs $900 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Thinner
    39 mm vs 58 mm
    Thinner
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    200 vs 9 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Olympus SZ-15

Review Excerpt

  • Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control.

  • Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting.

  • Read our Pentax K-01 Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX10

Pentax K-01
Samsung NX10
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX10

Olympus SZ-15
Samsung NX10
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX10

Compared to Olympus SZ-12

Pentax K-01
Olympus SZ-12
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $128
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Olympus SZ-12

Olympus SZ-15
Olympus SZ-12
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $128
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer exposure
  • Bulb shutter

Compare Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-12

Compared to Samsung NX20

Pentax K-01
Samsung NX20
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX20

Olympus SZ-15
Samsung NX20
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX20

Compared to Olympus SZ-16

Pentax K-01
Olympus SZ-16
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Olympus SZ-16

Olympus SZ-15
Olympus SZ-16
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • Longer exposure

Compare Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-16

Compared to Samsung NX30

Pentax K-01
Samsung NX30
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX30

Olympus SZ-15
Samsung NX30
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus SZ-15 vs Samsung NX30

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