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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed November 2003
  • Successor is Olympus E-3
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced February 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus E-1 and Pentax WG-1, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and WG-1 (14MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-1 was released 8 years prior to the WG-1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-1 grades against the WG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-1 WG-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-1

 WG-1 E-1 
IntroducedFebruary 2011November 2003More recent by 87 months
Display sizing2.7"1.8"Larger display (+0.9")
Display resolution230k134kSharper display (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax WG-1

 E-1 WG-1 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 has outer measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 and Pentax WG-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-1 and the WG-1.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-1 and WG-1 is 59 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and WG-1.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Pentax WG-1 will offer more detail as a result of its extra 9MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography advice
46
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
35
manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Street photography highlights
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
lighter than average (735g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Pentax WG-1
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5MP)
37
MP count decent (14MP)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Travel photography camera
47
lighter than average (735 grams)
weather proofing
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (5MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
environment sealing
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography factors
46
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is small (1.8 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5MP)
no Timelapse mode
42
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging information
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
25
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus E-1Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-1 Pentax Optio WG-1
Type Pro DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2003-11-29 2011-02-07
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 2560 x 1920 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 134 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735g (1.62 lb) 157g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,700 $350