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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Pentax WG-2 GPS

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Pentax WG-2 GPS
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Pentax WG-2 GPS, which was introduced in February 2012 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Olympus XZ-2 iHS, which was introduced in December 2012 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. There is only 10 months difference between WG-2 GPS and XZ-2 iHS so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-07
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in GPS
  • 198g. 122 x 61 x 30 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-12-18
  • 12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 346g. 113 x 65 x 48 mm

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS over Olympus XZ-2 iHS
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
198 g vs 346 g 148 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
140mm vs 112mm 28 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 4x more flexible focal coverage
CHECK WG-2 GPS PRICE


Reasons to choose Olympus XZ-2 iHS over Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
12.800 vs 6.400 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
35 vs 9 26 more focus points
LCD Resolution
920k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
340 shots vs 260 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.50 vs 5.50 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
8.6m vs 5.4m 3.2m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
3.52µm2 vs 2.04µm2 72% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
CHECK XZ-2 iHS PRICE

Common Strengths of Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Common Weaknesses of Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Pentax WG-2 GPS has external dimensions of 122 x 61 x 30 mm (4.8 x 2.4 x 1.18″) and weighs 198 g (0.44 lb / 6.98 oz) (including batteries). Olympus XZ-2 iHS has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 48 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 1.89″) and weighs 346 g (0.76 lb / 12.20 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Pentax WG-2 GPS and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Pentax WG-2 GPS is 4mm shorter and 18mm thinner than Olympus XZ-2 iHS but it is also 9mm wider.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Pentax WG-2 GPS and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS.
Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Pentax WG-2 GPS and the the Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Pentax WG-2 GPS is significantly lighter (148g ) than the Olympus XZ-2 iHS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
XZ-2 iHS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
XZ-2 iHS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather-sealed body of the WG-2 GPS, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the XZ-2 iHS.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels whereas the Pentax WG-2 GPS has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to XZ-2 iHS.


Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Sensor Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the WG-2 GPS and XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Cameras


As seen above, Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Pentax WG-2 GPS. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Lens Specs Comparison

Pentax WG-2 GPS features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5× zoom lens whereas Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 4x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Olympus XZ-2 iHS is faster than Pentax WG-2 GPS at this focal length. On the tele end, Pentax WG-2 GPS has 28mm longer reach than the Olympus XZ-2 iHS. However, with a max aperture of f2.50, Olympus XZ-2 iHS is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
XZ-2 iHS
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
XZ-2 iHS
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
XZ-2 iHS
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

WG-2 GPS
XZ-2 iHS
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Sports Photography

POOR

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Sports Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
140 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
35 Focus Points
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
112 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
198g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
346g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Built-in GPS
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Pentax WG-2 GPS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Pentax WG-2 GPS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS scores compare:

Pentax WG-2 GPS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #100 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #614 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #8 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #297 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Olympus XZ-2 iHS is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Pentax WG-2 GPS in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Pentax WG-2 GPS. Otherwise, Olympus XZ-2 iHS is the better camera overall.

Pentax WG-2 GPS
Pentax WG-2 GPS
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Brand Pentax Olympus
Announced 2012-02-07 2012-12-18
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 28.07mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4288 x 3216 3968 x 2976
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 35
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5×) 28-112 mm (4x)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.5 F1.8-2.5
Macro Focus Range 1cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.40 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 198g 346g
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm 113 x 65 x 48mm
Battery Life 260 shots 340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 49
DxO Color Depth not tested 20.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.3
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 216
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