Olympus Tough-3000 vs Pentax K-500

Following is a detailed review of the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the Tough-3000 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The Tough-3000 was announced 4 years prior to the K-500 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the Tough-3000 grades vs the K-500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 & Pentax K-500. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus Tough-3000 Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus Tough-3000 has got outer measurements of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the Tough-3000 compared to the K-500.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Tough-3000 and K-500 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Quite often, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading technical specs. The picture below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the Tough-3000 and K-500.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Tough-3000 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-500 will deliver more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged Tough-3000 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.