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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and WG-2 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was announced 4 months earlier than the WG-2 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL3 matches up against the WG-2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax WG-2

 E-PL3 WG-2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Olympus E-PL3

 WG-2 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax WG-2

 E-PL3 WG-2 
RevealedSeptember 2011February 2012Same generation
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the WG-2.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and WG-2 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and WG-2.

As you can see, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax WG-2 will show more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
40
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Pentax WG-2 Street photography info
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography highlights
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
38
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography advice
44
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery (300 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
70
environment proof
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography advice
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
47
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging details
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging details
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone support
30
fairly wide (28mm)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax WG-2
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Optio WG-2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2011-09-20 2012-02-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.40 m
Flash modes 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 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 192 gr (0.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 260 photographs
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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $399 $350