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Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
80
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 III
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
  • Revealed February 2011
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax WG-1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was brought out 4 years after the WG-1 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-M5 II scores versus the WG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Pentax WG-1

 E-M5 II WG-1 
RevealedFebruary 2015February 2011Newer by 49 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 WG-1 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax WG-1

 E-M5 II WG-1 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II features physical dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax WG-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 II versus the WG-1.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and WG-1 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specifications. The image below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 II and WG-1.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 II due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M5 II will resolve greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 II is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography features
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography features
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
35
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography info
Pentax WG-1 Street photography info
82
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Sports photography camera
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
37
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography features
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography features
74
weather proofing
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery life (310 per charge)
71
environment proof
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography information
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
not so great battery life (310 shots)
42
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Vlogging camera
82
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic port
25
pretty wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2015-02-06 2011-02-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 gr (1.03 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 260 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $699 $350