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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Introduced February 2011
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was revealed around the same time to the WG-1 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL2 grades against the WG-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-PL2 WG-1 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 WG-1 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax WG-1

 E-PL2 WG-1 
IntroducedFebruary 2011February 2011Similar age
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 has got external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL2 and the WG-1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and WG-1 is 85 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by checking specifications. The graphic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and WG-1.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax WG-1 will give you greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-1
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
35
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Pentax WG-1
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (280 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
42
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Pentax WG-1
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax Optio WG-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-02-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
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)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 gr (0.80 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $0 $350