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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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
  • Released February 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax WG-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is very similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 20 months after the WG-1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PL5 scores vs the WG-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-PL5 WG-1 
ReleasedSeptember 2012February 2011More modern by 20 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 WG-1 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax WG-1

 E-PL5 WG-1 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 features external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 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-PL5 and Pentax WG-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the WG-1.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and WG-1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing specifications. The pic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and WG-1.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will deliver more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher E-PL5 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-1
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
35
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Pentax WG-1 Street photography details
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
54
weather proof
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
37
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography info
75
features touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse function
71
weather proof
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography info
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse function
42
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
weather proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging advice
78
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
25
fairly wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax Optio WG-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2012-09-17 2011-02-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 325 gr (0.72 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" 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 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 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/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $400 $350