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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2011
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was brought out 22 months prior to the WG-1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-30 matches up against the WG-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-30 WG-1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-30

 WG-1 E-30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011March 2009More recent by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax WG-1

 E-30 WG-1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 provides exterior dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 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).

Contrast the Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-30 compared to the WG-1.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and WG-1 is 60 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and WG-1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-30 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax WG-1 will resolve extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography information
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography information
59
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
54
weather sealing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography features
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery (750 CIPA)
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography information
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography information
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery (750 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
71
weather sealing
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography info
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography info
52
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery (750 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
42
you can focus manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good resolution (14MP)
weather sealing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging features
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging features
18
can't shoot video
25
relatively wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus E-30Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2009-03-24 2011-02-07
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 data format - 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 photographs 260 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $1,299 $350