Olympus VG-145 vs Pentax K-5

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus VG-145 and Pentax K-5, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the VG-145 (14MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the VG-145 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The VG-145 was revealed 8 months after the K-5 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VG-145 grades versus the K-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VG-145 and Pentax K-5. The full galleries are available at Olympus VG-145 Gallery and Pentax K-5 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-145 comes with exterior measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-145 and Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the VG-145 and the K-5.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the VG-145 and K-5 is 96 and 60 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The pic here will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-145 and K-5.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The VG-145 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-5 will resolve more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher VG-145 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.