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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
26
Overall
32
Olympus VG-160 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 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
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax WG-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is pretty comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The VG-160 was brought out 18 months earlier than the WG-3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the VG-160 grades versus the WG-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Pentax WG-3

 VG-160 WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Olympus VG-160

 WG-3 VG-160 
RevealedJuly 2013January 2012More recent by 18 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VG-160 and Pentax WG-3

 VG-160 WG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-160 comes with physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Pentax WG-3 has proportions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-160 versus Pentax WG-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the VG-160 vs the WG-3.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and WG-3 is 96 and 90 respectively.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by going through a spec sheet. The visual here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-160 and WG-3.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Pentax WG-3 to produce more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older VG-160 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-160 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
41
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VG-160
Street photography with Pentax WG-3
56
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-160
Sports photography with Pentax WG-3
26
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (165 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
weather proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Travel photography information
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography information
65
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery life (165 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
72
weather proof
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery power (240 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-160 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography highlights
36
fairly wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery life (165 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
54
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
weather proof
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery power (240 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus VG-160
Vlogging with Pentax WG-3
30
fairly wide (26mm)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
36
fairly wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
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Olympus VG-160 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-160 and Pentax WG-3
 Olympus VG-160Pentax WG-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VG-160 Pentax WG-3
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2012-01-10 2013-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 7cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lb) 230 grams (0.51 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 165 photos 240 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-70B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $90 $300