Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1

Following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-PL6 versus Pentax WG-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL6 was released 3 years after the WG-1 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PL6 scores versus the WG-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL6 and Pentax Optio WG-1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL6 Gallery and Pentax WG-1 Gallery.

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL6 offers external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL6 versus Pentax WG-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL6 vs the WG-1.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and WG-1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The image below will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL6 and WG-1.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL6 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL6 will offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more recent E-PL6 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.