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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-30
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-50, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the VR-340 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is pretty similar but the VR-340 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The VR-340 was announced 22 months prior to the K-50 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VR-340 grades against the K-50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Pentax K-50

 VR-340 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus VR-340

 K-50 VR-340 
AnnouncedNovember 2013January 2012More recent by 22 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-50

 VR-340 K-50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-340 provides outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the VR-340 and the K-50.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VR-340 and K-50 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-340 and K-50.

As you can see, both cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The VR-340 has got the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh trickier. The older VR-340 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography information
34
good MP (16MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Street photography info
Pentax K-50 Street photography info
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (125 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
above average ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
more heavy than average (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-340
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-50 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competitors in class (125 grams)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
56
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
low battery pack (410 shots)
more heavy than average (650 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography highlights
43
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
low battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-50 Vlogging advice
33
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic socket
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than average (650g)
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus VR-340Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VR-340 Pentax K-50
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-10 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.7 -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate - 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.80 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $130 $610