Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-5

Here is a complete review of the Olympus Tough-3000 and Pentax K-5, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the Tough-3000 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The Tough-3000 was launched 11 months prior to the K-5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the Tough-3000 matches up against the K-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 and Pentax K-5. The complete galleries are available at Olympus Tough-3000 Gallery and Pentax K-5 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus Tough-3000 comes with exterior dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus Tough-3000 and Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the Tough-3000 against the K-5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Tough-3000 and K-5 is 94 and 60 respectively.

Quite often, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the Tough-3000 and K-5.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The Tough-3000 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-5 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older Tough-3000 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.