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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched June 2013
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2011
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was manufactured 2 years later than the WG-1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-15 grades vs the WG-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Pentax WG-1

 SZ-15 WG-1 
RevealedJune 2013February 2011More recent by 29 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus SZ-15

 WG-1 SZ-15 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax WG-1

 SZ-15 WG-1 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-15 offers outside measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 compared to the WG-1.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and WG-1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The graphic here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-15 and WG-1.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus SZ-15 to give more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher SZ-15 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography factors
44
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
35
has manual focus
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography advice
53
excellent zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
37
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography info
68
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (23mm)
very long reach (483mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
environment sealing
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-15
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-1
49
has manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse function
42
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good MP (14MP)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging info
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging info
34
quite wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (250 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no mic socket
25
quite wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus SZ-15Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-15 Pentax Optio WG-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2013-06-21 2011-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 grams (0.55 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $200 $350