Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-30

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is fairly close but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The VG-160 was revealed 9 months earlier than the K-30 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the VG-160 scores against the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VG-160 and Pentax K-30. The full galleries are available at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Pentax K-30 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 has got physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the VG-160 and the K-30.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and K-30 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching specs. The image below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The VG-160 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-30 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.