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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-120 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Olympus VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus VG-120 versus Pentax WG-2, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the VG-120 (14MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is fairly comparable and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The VG-120 was unveiled 13 months before the WG-2 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the VG-120 scores against the WG-2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Pentax WG-2

 VG-120 WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Olympus VG-120

 WG-2 VG-120 
IntroducedFebruary 2012January 2011Fresher by 13 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-120 and Pentax WG-2

 VG-120 WG-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-120 enjoys physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VG-120 versus Pentax WG-2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the VG-120 compared to the WG-2.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VG-120 and WG-2 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The graphic here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-120 and WG-2.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Pentax WG-2 to provide more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older VG-120 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography factors
33
good resolution (14MP)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
40
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-120
Street photography with Pentax WG-2
48
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
54
environment proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Sports photography highlights
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography highlights
26
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (160 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
38
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Travel photography details
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography details
62
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
36
decently wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-120 Vlogging highlights
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging highlights
28
decently wide (26mm)
offers face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
30
really wide (28mm)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus VG-120 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-120 and Pentax WG-2
 Olympus VG-120Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VG-120 Pentax Optio WG-2
Type Ultracompact Waterproof
Released 2011-01-06 2012-02-07
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 7cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in 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 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120 gr (0.26 lb) 192 gr (0.42 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 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 160 pictures 260 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $190 $350