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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Launched January 2012
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-S1
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus VR-340 versus Pentax K-S2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the VR-340 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the VR-340 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The VR-340 was released 4 years earlier than the K-S2 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the VR-340 matches up versus the K-S2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Pentax K-S2

 VR-340 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus VR-340

 K-S2 VR-340 
IntroducedFebruary 2015January 2012More modern by 37 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-S2

 VR-340 K-S2 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus VR-340 offers external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax K-S2 has specifications of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-340 versus Pentax K-S2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the VR-340 and the K-S2.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VR-340 and K-S2 is 96 and 64 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through technical specs. The picture here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-340 and K-S2.

As you have seen, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VR-340 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-S2 will show extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged VR-340 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography advice
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
78
manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-340
Street photography with Pentax K-S2
63
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (125 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography highlights
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than average (125 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
weather sealing
MP count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography factors
43
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Vlogging camera
33
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
lighter than average (125 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
71
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus VR-340Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VR-340 Pentax K-S2
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-01-10 2015-02-10
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.7 -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lb) 678 grams (1.49 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 410 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $130 $581