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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced February 2012
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
  • Revealed February 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax WG-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is fairly comparable and they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was unveiled 13 months after the WG-1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores vs the WG-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax WG-1

 SZ-31MR iHS WG-1 
RevealedFebruary 2012February 2011Newer by 13 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 WG-1 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax WG-1

 SZ-31MR iHS WG-1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax WG-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the WG-1.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and WG-1 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and WG-1.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to produce greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more recent SZ-31MR iHS is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-1
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
35
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography details
Pentax WG-1 Street photography details
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Sports photography camera
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
37
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography information
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography information
67
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
offers focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography details
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography details
41
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
42
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging factors
35
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone jack
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax Optio WG-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2012-02-08 2011-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 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 200 photographs 260 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $0 $350