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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Introduced February 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was released 8 months after the WG-1 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL3 scores vs the WG-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-PL3 WG-1 
IntroducedSeptember 2011February 2011More modern by 8 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 WG-1 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax WG-1

 E-PL3 WG-1 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 offers physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL3 against the WG-1.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and WG-1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and WG-1.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax WG-1 will produce more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
35
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
54
weather proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
37
decent MP (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Pentax WG-1
44
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
weather proofing
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
no Time Lapse function
42
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging highlights
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic support
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Optio WG-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2011-09-20 2011-02-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 313g (0.69 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 260 images
Style 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $399 $350