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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS

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

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Key Specs

Olympus VH-515
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 152g - 102 x 60 x 21mm
  • Revealed August 2012
Pentax WG-1 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 167g - 116 x 59 x 29mm
  • Announced August 2011
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus VH-515 versus Pentax WG-1 GPS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the WG-1 GPS (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The VH-515 was manufactured 13 months later than the WG-1 GPS making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the VH-515 scores versus the WG-1 GPS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

 VH-515 WG-1 GPS 
AnnouncedAugust 2012August 2011Fresher by 13 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 WG-1 GPS VH-515 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

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

 VH-515 WG-1 GPS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus VH-515 features exterior measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Pentax WG-1 GPS has measurements of 116mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Olympus VH-515 versus Pentax WG-1 GPS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the VH-515 versus the WG-1 GPS.

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

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VH-515 and WG-1 GPS is 95 and 93 respectively.

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

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to picture the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the VH-515 and WG-1 GPS.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Pentax WG-1 GPS to provide greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The younger VH-515 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

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

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

Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VH-515 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-1 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
27
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
35
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Street photography factors
Pentax WG-1 GPS Street photography factors
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with touch focus
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
54
environment sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Sports photography info
Pentax WG-1 GPS Sports photography info
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
37
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Travel photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 GPS Travel photography highlights
62
comes with touch focus
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-1 GPS Landscape photography advice
37
reasonably wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
42
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
environment sealing
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VH-515 Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-1 GPS Vlogging factors
35
reasonably wide (26mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus VH-515 vs Pentax WG-1 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VH-515 and Pentax WG-1 GPS
 Olympus VH-515Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VH-515 Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2012-08-21 2011-08-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-130mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.70 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 152 grams (0.34 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 60 x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 116 x 59 x 29mm (4.6" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 260 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $648 $350