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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the VR-340 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The VR-340 was unveiled 17 months before the MX-1 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the VR-340 matches up vs the MX-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Pentax MX-1

 VR-340 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus VR-340

 MX-1 VR-340 
LaunchedJuly 2013January 2012More modern by 17 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax MX-1

 VR-340 MX-1 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-340 enjoys outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VR-340 and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the VR-340 vs the MX-1.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the VR-340 and MX-1 is 96 and 84 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The image below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-340 and MX-1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The VR-340 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus VR-340 will show greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged VR-340 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-340
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
42
has manual focus
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (125g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than others (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VR-340
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
great battery power (290 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition in class (125g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
61
great battery power (290 per charge)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (391 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
43
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
great battery power (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
33
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
33
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
heavier than others (391g)
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Olympus VR-340 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus VR-340Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus VR-340 Pentax MX-1
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-01-10 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.7 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.80 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 lb) 391 grams (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $130 $400