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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Announced September 2011
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax RZ18, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is very close and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was announced 4 months after the RZ18 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the VG-160 matches up against the RZ18 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Pentax RZ18

 VG-160 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus VG-160

 RZ18 VG-160 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Pentax RZ18

 VG-160 RZ18 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012September 2011Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus VG-160 comes with exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the VG-160 compared to the RZ18.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VG-160 and RZ18 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and RZ18.

Clearly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Pentax RZ18 to render greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography advice
34
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
36
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Street photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Street photography advice
56
lighter than competition (125g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than others in class (178 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Sports photography info
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography info
27
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (165 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography information
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography information
66
lighter than competition (125 grams)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery (165 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than others in class (178 grams)
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
37
rather wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3")
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery (165 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
49
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Vlogging features
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging features
30
rather wide (26mm)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (178g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus VG-160Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VG-160 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-01-10 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 7cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 pounds) 178 gr (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 165 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $90 $210