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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax WG-2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and WG-2 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 21 months before the WG-2 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL1 scores versus the WG-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax WG-2

 E-PL1 WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Olympus E-PL1

 WG-2 E-PL1 
ReleasedFebruary 2012May 2010More modern by 21 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax WG-2

 E-PL1 WG-2 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 features exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax WG-2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1 and the WG-2.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and WG-2 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The pic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and WG-2.

All in all, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax WG-2 will give you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography information
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
40
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
Pentax WG-2 Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
54
weather proof
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography features
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography features
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (290 shots)
no phase detect AF
38
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography info
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (290 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
weather proof
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography details
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography details
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (290 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
30
pretty wide (28mm)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax WG-2
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio WG-2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2010-05-17 2012-02-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lbs) 192 gr (0.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 photos 260 photos
Battery form 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
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $288 $350