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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Successor is Olympus VR-330
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the K-r (12MP) is fairly close but the VR-320 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The VR-320 was introduced 5 months later than the K-r and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the VR-320 scores versus the K-r in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Pentax K-r

 VR-320 K-r 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Olympus VR-320

 K-r VR-320 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Pentax K-r

 VR-320 K-r 
LaunchedJuly 2011March 2011Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus VR-320 offers external dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax K-r has measurements of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Examine the Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the VR-320 and the K-r.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and K-r is 94 and 67 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing technical specs. The visual here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VR-320 and K-r.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The VR-320 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus VR-320 will render greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-320
Portrait photography with Pentax K-r
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
63
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (158 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-320
Sports photography with Pentax K-r
47
incredible zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than others in class (158g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
47
flash built-in
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Landscape photography camera
42
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery life (470 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Vlogging features
Pentax K-r Vlogging features
32
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (158g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus VR-320Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VR-320 Pentax K-r
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-07-19 2011-03-11
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.70 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 158 grams (0.35 lbs) 598 grams (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 755
Other
Battery life - 470 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $179 $1,100