Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-S2

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-S2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the VG-160 (14MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the VG-160 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The VG-160 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-S2 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the VG-160 grades versus the K-S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus VG-160 and Pentax K-S2. The full galleries are provided at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Pentax K-S2 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 has exterior 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-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the VG-160 against the K-S2.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and K-S2 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Generally, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The picture below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the VG-160 and K-S2.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VG-160 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will deliver greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged VG-160 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.