Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax K-x

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus VG-160 and Pentax K-x, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the K-x (12MP) is very comparable but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The VG-160 was announced 2 years after the K-x which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the VG-160 matches up vs the K-x in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VG-160 & Pentax K-x. The whole galleries are available at Olympus VG-160 Gallery & Pentax K-x Gallery.

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 enjoys physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-160 and Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the VG-160 compared to the K-x.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and K-x is 96 and 69 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and K-x.

Clearly, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The VG-160 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus VG-160 will provide extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern VG-160 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.