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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL7
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
  • Launched February 2011
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-PL6 WG-1 
LaunchedAugust 2014February 2011More modern by 43 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-PL6

 WG-1 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax WG-1

 E-PL6 WG-1 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
35
you can focus manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
54
weather proof
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL6
Sports photography with Pentax WG-1
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
37
decent MP (14MP)
has tracking focus
weather proof
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography factors
85
provides focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
71
weather proof
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography factors
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
42
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging advice
79
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external mic jack
25
pretty wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL6 Pentax Optio WG-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2014-08-01 2011-02-07
Physical type 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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
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
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
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 not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 260 photographs
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
Card slots One One
Price at launch $300 $350