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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax WG-1 GPS
(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
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Revealed August 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax WG-1 GPS, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 GPS (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 15 months before the WG-1 GPS making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-PL1 grades against the WG-1 GPS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax WG-1 GPS

 E-PL1 WG-1 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 GPS over the Olympus E-PL1

 WG-1 GPS E-PL1 
RevealedAugust 2011May 2010More modern by 15 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax WG-1 GPS

 E-PL1 WG-1 GPS 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display size
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 features physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Pentax WG-1 GPS has sizing of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax WG-1 GPS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the WG-1 GPS.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and WG-1 GPS is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and WG-1 GPS.

Clearly, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax WG-1 GPS will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-1 GPS Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
35
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Pentax WG-1 GPS
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
54
environment proof
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography details
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
37
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography information
Pentax WG-1 GPS Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
71
environment proof
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
42
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
25
really wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2010-05-17 2011-08-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 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 range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images 260 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $288 $350