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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Here is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax WG-2 GPS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the WG-2 GPS (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 GPS (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL9 was launched 6 years later than the WG-2 GPS and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-2 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL9 scores versus the WG-2 GPS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 E-PL9 WG-2 GPS 
IntroducedFebruary 2018February 2012Fresher by 74 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Olympus E-PL9

 WG-2 GPS E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 E-PL9 WG-2 GPS 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with outer measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 GPS has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax WG-2 GPS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL9 versus the WG-2 GPS.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and WG-2 GPS is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by going over technical specs. The visual here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and WG-2 GPS.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 contains the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The more recent E-PL9 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
40
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
54
environment sealing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
69
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
38
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography information
Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography information
77
supports bluetooth
features touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
environment sealing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography info
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
47
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging info
Pentax WG-2 GPS Vlogging info
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
30
relatively wide (28mm)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2018-02-08 2012-02-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 lb) 198g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 350 pictures 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $300