Olympus VR-320 vs Pentax Q-S1

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.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VR-320 & Pentax Q-S1. The entire galleries are available at Olympus VR-320 Gallery & Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.