Clicky

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternative Name is mju Tough 3000
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-30
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Pentax K-50, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the Tough-3000 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The Tough-3000 was revealed 4 years earlier than the K-50 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the Tough-3000 grades against the K-50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Pentax K-50

 Tough-3000 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 K-50 Tough-3000 
AnnouncedNovember 2013January 2010More modern by 47 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus Tough-3000 and Pentax K-50

 Tough-3000 K-50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus Tough-3000 has outer dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Pentax K-50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the Tough-3000 versus the K-50.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Tough-3000 and K-50 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The picture below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the Tough-3000 and K-50.

As you can see, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Tough-3000 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-50 will show extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged Tough-3000 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography features
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus Tough-3000
Street photography with Pentax K-50
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
great ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
more heavy than competition (650g)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Sports photography details
Pentax K-50 Sports photography details
36
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery power (410 per charge)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Travel photography highlights
61
environment proof
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
56
environment proof
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
bad battery power (410 per charge)
more heavy than competition (650 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography information
35
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery power (410 shots)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus Tough-3000
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition (650 grams)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus Tough-3000 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000Pentax K-50
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 Pentax K-50
Other name mju Tough 3000 -
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-07 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 51600
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.1 -
Macro focus distance 2cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159g (0.35 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $0 $610