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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Launched August 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 GPS (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was announced 2 months after the WG-1 GPS so they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL3 scores against the WG-1 GPS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-PL3 WG-1 GPS 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

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

 WG-1 GPS E-PL3 

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

 E-PL3 WG-1 GPS 
LaunchedSeptember 2011August 2011Same age
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 GPS has measurements of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL3 and the WG-1 GPS.

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

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and WG-1 GPS is 88 and 93 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The image here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and WG-1 GPS.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Pentax WG-1 GPS will render extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a bit more aggressively.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-1 GPS
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
35
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
54
environment proof
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
37
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Pentax WG-1 GPS Travel photography information
44
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
71
environment proof
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography info
Pentax WG-1 GPS Landscape photography info
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
42
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14MP)
environment proof
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
Pentax WG-1 GPS Vlogging info
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
25
rather wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2011-09-20 2011-08-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology 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 speed 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 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
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 260 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $399 $350