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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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
  • Launched August 2011
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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus VG-120 versus Pentax WG-1 GPS, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is relatively similar and both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was announced 7 months prior to the WG-1 GPS so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax WG-1 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the VG-120 grades against the WG-1 GPS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Pentax WG-1 GPS

 VG-120 WG-1 GPS 
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 GPS over the Olympus VG-120

 WG-1 GPS VG-120 
LaunchedAugust 2011January 2011More recent by 7 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Pentax WG-1 GPS

 VG-120 WG-1 GPS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-120 features physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 GPS has proportions of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VG-120 versus Pentax WG-1 GPS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the VG-120 compared to the WG-1 GPS.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the VG-120 and WG-1 GPS is 96 and 93 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The graphic below should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-120 and WG-1 GPS.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same megapixels so you can expect similar quality of photos but you may want to consider the launch date of the products into consideration. The older VG-120 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-1 GPS Portrait photography details
33
MP count decent (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
35
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Street photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Street photography advice
48
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography advice
26
MP count decent (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (160 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
37
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography information
Pentax WG-1 GPS Travel photography information
62
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (160 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
weather sealing
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Landscape photography camera
36
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery pack (160 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
42
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good MP (14 megapixels)
weather sealing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-120
Vlogging with Pentax WG-1 GPS
28
pretty wide (26mm)
offers face detect focusing
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
25
quite wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Olympus VG-120Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VG-120 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Type Ultracompact Waterproof
Revealed 2011-01-06 2011-08-16
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD 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 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 7cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 120 gr (0.26 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 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 160 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $190 $350