Olympus VR-330 vs Pentax K-5

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus VR-330 and Pentax K-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VR-330 (14MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the VR-330 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The VR-330 was unveiled 2 months later than the K-5 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VR-330 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the VR-330 grades against the K-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VR-330 and Pentax K-5. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus VR-330 Gallery and Pentax K-5 Gallery.

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VR-330 has physical 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 K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus VR-330 and Pentax K-5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the VR-330 and the K-5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VR-330 and K-5 is 94 and 60 respectively.

More often than not, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-330 and K-5.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The VR-330 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 will give you greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively.