Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-7

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-7, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the VR-340 (16MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is very similar but the VR-340 (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The VR-340 was announced 2 years later than the K-7 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the VR-340 grades against the K-7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VR-340 & Pentax K-7. The whole galleries are available at Olympus VR-340 Gallery & Pentax K-7 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VR-340 has got outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the VR-340 and the K-7.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VR-340 and K-7 is 96 and 60 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading specifications. The visual here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the VR-340 and K-7.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The VR-340 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus VR-340 will offer extra detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher VR-340 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.