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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax K-1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and K-1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The VG-160 was released 5 years prior to the K-1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the VG-160 matches up against the K-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Pentax K-1

 VG-160 K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus VG-160

 K-1 VG-160 
IntroducedFebruary 2016January 2012More recent by 49 months
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Pentax K-1

 VG-160 K-1 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 offers outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax K-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the VG-160 compared to the K-1.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and K-1 is 96 and 55 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and K-1.

As you can see, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VG-160 due to its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-1 will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 22MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older VG-160 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography info
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
85
has manual focus
megapixel count fantastic (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography advice
Pentax K-1 Street photography advice
56
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
70
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
above average high ISO (204,800)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography features
Pentax K-1 Sports photography features
26
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (165 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count fantastic (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
not so great battery (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (165 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
53
weather proofing
megapixel count fantastic (36MP)
not so great battery (760 shots)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Landscape photography camera
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery pack (165 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
81
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count fantastic (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
not so great battery (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-160
Vlogging with Pentax K-1
30
reasonably wide (26mm)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus VG-160Pentax K-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VG-160 Pentax K-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-10 2016-02-17
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 1600 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 -
Macro focus range 7cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 gr (0.28 pounds) 1010 gr (2.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.6
DXO Low light score not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 165 photos 760 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots Single Two
Cost at launch $90 $1,499