Clicky

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus VH-515 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Released August 2012
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2011
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax WG-1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the WG-1 (14MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The VH-515 was launched 19 months after the WG-1 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the VH-515 matches up against the WG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VH-515 over the Pentax WG-1

 VH-515 WG-1 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2011Newer by 19 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus VH-515

 WG-1 VH-515 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax WG-1

 VH-515 WG-1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus VH-515 enjoys physical measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") having a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VH-515 and Pentax WG-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the VH-515 and the WG-1.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VH-515 and WG-1 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The picture below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the VH-515 and WG-1.

Plainly, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Pentax WG-1 to render more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more modern VH-515 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VH-515
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-1
27
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
35
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VH-515
Street photography with Pentax WG-1
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch to focus
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
54
weather proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Sports photography advice
32
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography info
Pentax WG-1 Travel photography info
62
boasts touch to focus
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
weather proof
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography highlights
37
rather wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
42
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good resolution (14MP)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Vlogging camera
35
rather wide (26mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic port
25
quite wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus VH-515Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VH-515 Pentax Optio WG-1
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2012-08-21 2011-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 152 gr (0.34 lbs) 157 gr (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 260 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $648 $350