• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 14.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Pentax WG-1 advantages over Olympus E-P5

  • Less expensive
    $350 vs $1450 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Thinner
    28 mm vs 37 mm
    Thinner

Olympus E-P5 advantages over Pentax WG-1

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.75 vs 1.44 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 330 vs 260 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More dots on screen
    1037k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 14.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 0.7 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/1500 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Handsome retro styling; Very good image quality and dynamic range, with competitive high ISO performance; Lightning fast autofocusing; Excellent burst speeds (nearly 10fps at full res); Top shutter speed of 1/8000 second; Sharp, bright 17mm f/1.8 kit lens; 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with 1.04M dots of resolution.

  • Heavier than some mirrorless models; Weak flash; Below average battery life; No built-in viewfinder (but EVF available in a kit or for separate purchase); A bit pricey compared to the similar E-M5, which offers a built-in EVF and weather sealing at about the same price.

The Competition

Compared to Pentax I-10

Pentax WG-1
Pentax I-10
  • $260
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • HDMI out
  • $300
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Faster JPEG shooting
Olympus E-P5
Pentax I-10
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $300
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compared to Pentax W90

Pentax WG-1
Pentax W90
  • $260
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Faster JPEG shooting
Olympus E-P5
Pentax W90
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compared to Pentax WG-1 GPS

Pentax WG-1
Pentax WG-1 GPS
  • $260
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
Olympus E-P5
Pentax WG-1 GPS
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Pentax WG-1
Olympus E-M5
  • $260
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Internal flash
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Olympus E-P5
Olympus E-M5
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Pentax WG-1
Panasonic GX7
  • $260
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Olympus E-P5
Panasonic GX7
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Thinner
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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