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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus VR-320 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 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
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Renewed by Olympus VR-330
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2014
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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus VR-320 and Pentax Q-S1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the VR-320 (14MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is very close but the VR-320 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The VR-320 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the Q-S1 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the VR-320 scores vs the Q-S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Pentax Q-S1

 VR-320 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus VR-320

 Q-S1 VR-320 
IntroducedAugust 2014July 2011Fresher by 37 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-320 and Pentax Q-S1

 VR-320 Q-S1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus VR-320 provides exterior measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus VR-320 and Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the VR-320 vs the Q-S1.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VR-320 and Q-S1 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-320 and Q-S1.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The VR-320 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus VR-320 will result in more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older VR-320 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Portrait photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography factors
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
46
focusing manually
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Street photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography factors
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (158g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (203 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-320
Sports photography with Pentax Q-S1
47
incredible zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
37
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
bad battery life (250 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Travel photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography factors
70
lighter than competition in class (158 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
60
lighter than competition in class (203 grams)
has built in flash
bad battery life (250 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-320 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
bad battery life (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-320 Vlogging highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging highlights
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (158 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (203g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-320 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus VR-320Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus VR-320 Pentax Q-S1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-07-19 2014-08-04
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Q Engine
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 24-300mm (12.5x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.70 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158 gr (0.35 pounds) 203 gr (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 - 250 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $179 $250