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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Pentax WG-1 GPS
(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
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Introduced August 2011
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Pentax WG-1 GPS, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is pretty well matched and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was announced 18 months after the WG-1 GPS which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ-16 iHS scores versus the WG-1 GPS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Pentax WG-1 GPS

 SZ-16 iHS WG-1 GPS 
IntroducedJanuary 2013August 2011Newer by 18 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 GPS over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 WG-1 GPS SZ-16 iHS 
Manually focus More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax WG-1 GPS

 SZ-16 iHS WG-1 GPS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS enjoys outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax WG-1 GPS has sizing of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Pentax WG-1 GPS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the WG-1 GPS.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and WG-1 GPS is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The picture here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-16 iHS and WG-1 GPS.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to give more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern SZ-16 iHS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-1 GPS Portrait photography factors
35
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
35
has manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 GPS Street photography highlights
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography advice
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
37
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (220 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
environment sealing
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-1 GPS
41
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
42
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Pentax WG-1 GPS
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2013-01-08 2011-08-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" 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 220 shots 260 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $230 $350