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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Released February 2011
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-5 was revealed within a month of the WG-1 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-5 grades against the WG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-5 WG-1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-5

 WG-1 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax WG-1

 E-5 WG-1 
ReleasedFebruary 2011February 2011Similar generation
Manually focus More accurate focus
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 features exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-5 vs the WG-1.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and WG-1 is 58 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The picture here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and WG-1.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-5 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Pentax WG-1 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-1
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
35
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Street photography advice
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
54
weather proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Pentax WG-1
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
37
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-5
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
56
weather sealing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
71
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography highlights
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Vlogging camera
64
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
comes with microphone jack
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus E-5Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-5 Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2011-02-03 2011-02-07
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 11 -
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 screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 157g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 260 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 2 1
Cost at release $1,700 $350