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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
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
  • Released February 2011
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax WG-1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was revealed 15 months after the WG-1 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-M5 matches up vs the WG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-M5 WG-1 
ReleasedApril 2012February 2011More modern by 15 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 WG-1 E-M5 

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

 E-M5 WG-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 has got physical dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and 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 versus Pentax WG-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 and the WG-1.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and WG-1 is 81 and 93 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and WG-1.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 with its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M5 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The newer E-M5 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography info
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
35
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Street photography highlights
82
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
environment sealing
good ISO range (25,600)
54
environment proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
has no phase detect autofocus
37
good megapixels (14MP)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography features
66
environment sealing
comes with focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
71
environment proofing
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography features
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography features
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
lack of Timelapse mode
42
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
good megapixels (14MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging details
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging details
34
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
25
quite wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax Optio WG-1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2012-04-30 2011-02-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 260 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $799 $350