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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Released March 2009
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Olympus E-30 and Pentax WG-2 GPS, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and WG-2 GPS (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 GPS (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was launched 3 years prior to the WG-2 GPS which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax WG-2 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-30 grades versus the WG-2 GPS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 E-30 WG-2 GPS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Olympus E-30

 WG-2 GPS E-30 
ReleasedFebruary 2012March 2009More modern by 35 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 E-30 WG-2 GPS 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 has got outer measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 GPS has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 and Pentax WG-2 GPS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 and the WG-2 GPS.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and WG-2 GPS is 60 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The image here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and WG-2 GPS.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Pentax WG-2 GPS will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
40
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
supports face detection focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography info
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
54
environment proofing
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Sports photography info
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery life (750 shots)
38
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Travel photography camera
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (750 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
70
environment proofing
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography advice
52
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery life (750 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
47
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Vlogging camera
18
no video
30
rather wide (28mm)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Olympus E-30Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Class Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Released 2009-03-24 2012-02-07
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.40 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 198 grams (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 260 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $1,299 $300