Olympus TG-850 iHS vs. Pentax Optio H90: Which Compact Camera Fits Your Photography Style?

As someone who has spent over 15 years shooting and testing countless cameras, I’ve learned that the right photographic tool depends sharply on your intended use, shooting environment, and personal preferences. Today, I’m diving deep into two compact cameras - the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS (TG-850 iHS) and the Pentax Optio H90 (H90) - both aimed at on-the-go shooters who crave simplicity and portability but with different priorities.

Having spent extensive hands-on time with both, I will walk you through their design, image quality, handling, and real-world performance across various genres: from landscapes and wildlife to night photography and casual travel snaps. Along the way, I’ll integrate technical insights you won’t easily find elsewhere, drawing from my testing workflow and industry-standard metrics.

Let’s start by putting them side by side.

Feeling the Shape and Build: Toughness Meets Classic Compact

The Olympus TG-850 iHS positions itself as a rugged, waterproof travel companion. Its 110x64x28mm body weighs in at 218g, built for adventure. In contrast, the Pentax H90, measuring 101x65x28mm and lighter at 153g, opts for a more conventional compact design - sleeker but less rugged.

From my extensive outdoor shooting sessions, I found the TG-850’s weather sealing and shockproof features invaluable hiking through unpredictable elements. It ticks all boxes for waterproofing (up to 10m), dust, crush, and freeze-proof capabilities - perfect for wilderness shooters and poolside photography. The in-hand feel is purposely grippy with textured rubberized surfaces, preventing slips when wet or gloved.

The Pentax H90 lacks this ruggedness, designed more for casual shooters seeking portability. Its slim profile fits effortlessly in a coat pocket or purse. While its all-plastic body feels lightweight and unobtrusive, it demands more care around moisture or rough environments.

Ergonomically, the TG-850 features a more substantial grip and larger buttons - convenient for quick adjustments on the fly, especially outdoors. I appreciated being able to operate most controls without fumbling or needing to look away from the scene. Meanwhile, the H90’s minimalistic layout accommodates a smaller form factor but at the expense of ease for shooting in motion.

Behind the Lens: Optical Zoom and Aperture Comparison

Both cameras employ fixed zoom lenses with roughly 5x zoom ranges but differ in focal reach:

• TG-850 iHS: 21–105mm (equivalent), f/3.5–5.7 aperture
• H90: 28–140mm (equivalent), f/3.5–5.9 aperture

On the surface, the Pentax's longer 140mm telephoto reach suggests more versatility for distant subjects such as wildlife or casual sports. However, the Olympus's wider 21mm wide angle is genuinely useful in landscapes or cramped interiors, offering more compositional freedom.

In the field, the Olympus lens delivered sharper details at wide and medium ranges, with less noticeable distortion at its widest. The Pentax, while competent, exhibited mild softening towards the telephoto end and slightly more chromatic aberration, especially in high-contrast edges.

The TG-850's lens, combined with its 5.8x crop factor, maintained decent aperture control for a compact waterproof camera, but expect slow glass at the long end (f/5.7). The H90’s aperture similarly struggled in low light on zoomed shots.

Neither camera offers true manual aperture control, a limitation for those wanting refined depth-of-field control. Both rely on automatic exposure with no aperture or shutter priority modes, restricting creative exposure flexibility.

All About That Sensor: Image Quality Insights

Both cameras share the same sensor size - a standard 1/2.3” (6.17x4.55mm) format - but vary considerably in sensor technology and resolution:

I ran my usual resolution charts and real-world scene tests. The Olympus’s BSI-CMOS sensor technology offers improved light-gathering efficiency, boosting performance in mid to low light compared to the older CCD sensor in the Pentax.

• Resolution edge: The TG-850 delivers slightly sharper images with better detail retention, useful in landscapes or portraits.
• Noise control: Olympus maintains cleaner images up to ISO 800. Past ISO 1600, noise becomes more intrusive on both cameras. Pentax struggles with noise from ISO 400 onwards.
• Dynamic range: Both cameras offer limited dynamic range typical of small sensors, but Olympus does better preserving highlights and details in shadows thanks to its TruePic VII processor.

Neither camera supports RAW shooting, which will disappoint advanced users wanting post-processing control. This limits these models to JPEG output strictly - a constraint that matters in professional workflows.

Live View and Screen Experience

The Olympus TG-850 features a 3-inch tilting TFT LCD at 460k dots, while the Pentax H90 sports a fixed 2.7-inch LCD at 230k dots.

From my hands-on tests:

• The TG-850’s tilting screen is a significant ergonomic advantage for shooting at challenging angles - low-to-the-ground macros or overhead street photography.
• Its display is fairly bright and color-accurate in daylight, improving framing reliability outdoors.
• The Pentax H90’s smaller fixed screen struggles under bright sunlight and limits creative framing options without an electronic viewfinder (neither camera has one).

Both lack touchscreen capabilities, so menu navigation might feel slower to users accustomed to modern DSLR or mirrorless controls.

Autofocus and Shooting Speeds: Catching the Moment

Autofocus is pivotal for genres like wildlife, sports, or street photography. Here’s the summary:

The Olympus TG-850’s contrast-based autofocus system impressed with face detection capabilities and reliable AF tracking during continuous bursts at 7fps - a boon for spontaneous moments, kids, or pets.

In contrast, the Pentax H90’s AF is limited to single-shot AF with no face detection, and its single shot per second burst rate makes it impractical for fast-moving scenarios.

While neither camera uses phase detection AF (common in DSLRs and mirrorless), the Olympus’s AF responsiveness felt better calibrated and quicker under various lighting, thanks in part to its newer processor.

Image Stabilization: Steady Shots in Your Hands

Both cameras offer optical or sensor-shift stabilization systems:

• Olympus uses lens-based optical image stabilization, a typical setup in rugged cameras.
• Pentax incorporates sensor-shift stabilization.

In practice, Olympus’s optical stabilization yielded better hand-held sharpness, especially at longer focal lengths or in low-light indoor shots. The Pentax did reduce some shake, but without being particularly aggressive or effective beyond moderate shutter speeds.

If you often shoot in challenging conditions handheld, the TG-850’s stabilization is a clear plus.

Versatility in Photography Styles

Let’s evaluate how these two cameras perform across various photography disciplines I regularly test:

Portraits: Capturing Natural Skin Tones and Expression

The TG-850’s higher resolution and effective face detection autofocus produce more consistently sharp portraits with pleasing skin tones, particularly in well-lit environments. Its 21–105mm zoom caters nicely for tight or environmental portraits.

The Pentax H90’s 12MP CCD sensor renders somewhat muted skin tones and slower AF, hindering candid portraits or fast expression capture.

Neither has adjustable aperture priority, so bokeh control is limited by lens construction rather than creative intent.

Landscapes: Detail and Range in Nature Scenes

The TG-850 shines here, delivering slightly higher resolution and cleaner shadows. The weather sealing also means you can safely shoot in mist or light rain without worry - great for nature outings.

The H90’s long 140mm zoom can isolate distant features but at the cost of some edge softness and color fringing.

Wildlife and Sports: Speed and Lens Reach

Despite its shorter lens, Olympus’s fast 7fps burst and continuous AF tracking surpass Pentax’s 1fps and single AF mode decisively. For fleeting wildlife moments, the TG-850 is the more reliable choice.

The Pentax H90’s longer telephoto is attractive but hampered by slow AF and burst rates, making it less ready for action.

Street Photography: Portability and Discretion

Although the H90 is smaller and lighter (153g vs 218g), it's a hair thicker and lacks a tilting screen, decreasing compositional flexibility. The TG-850’s rugged design may feel a little bulky for urban hiding, but it rewards in versatility and build toughness.

Both cameras have quiet shutter mechanisms, suitable for candid shooting.

Macro Photography: Close-Up Detailing

Only the Pentax H90 specifies a close macro focus around 10cm, while the TG-850 lacks explicit macro specs. In tests, the Pentax offered slightly better close focusing precision, but the TG-850’s stabilization helped keep handheld macro shots steady.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO & Low Light

Low light is challenging for both; their small sensors and limited ISO performance mean noise dominates beyond ISO 800. The Olympus’s superior sensor and processing pull ahead faintly, with slightly more usable images at ISO 1600.

Neither features advanced exposure aids for astrophotography, so enthusiasts will likely seek dedicated cameras for that genre.

Video Capabilities: Recording and Stabilization

TG-850 records Full HD 1080/60p video using H.264 codec and boasts built-in optical stabilization for smoother handheld footage. The Pentax H90 limits video to 720p and Motion JPEG format, which is less efficient.

Neither offers microphone or headphone ports, so audio quality is limited. For casual video capture, TG-850 delivers better quality and stabilization.

Workflow-Friendly Features: Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

The Olympus offers integrated Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote control - a feature many modern travelers and social shooters appreciate. The Pentax supports Eye-Fi card connectivity for wireless transfers but depends on proprietary cards.

Battery life on the TG-850 is decent for a compact camera, lasting about 330 shots per charge, while the Pentax battery endurance is unspecified but my experience suggests it's shorter per charge.

The TG-850's HDMI output is helpful for reviewing images or video on external displays; Pentax lacks this, reflecting its more casual, entry-level positioning.

Here’s How They Stack Up Overall

And breaking down their strength in different specific photography styles:

As you can see, Olympus TG-850 iHS outperforms Pentax H90 in almost all demanding photography scenarios: outdoor adventure, landscape, wildlife, and even casual video. The Pentax H90 holds some value for very casual, budget-conscious shooters primarily seeking portability and basic shooting.

Sample Images Comparison

Here are some side-by-side shots I captured with both cameras in similar conditions - a mix of urban street scenes, forest landscapes, and macro shots.

Olympus TG 850 iHS front Olympus TG 850 iHS screen back Pentax H90 front Pentax H90 screen back

Look carefully at detail, color accuracy, and noise levels in shadows and highlights to appreciate the sensor and lens differences I described.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Having tested both extensively, here’s how I would advise photographers evaluating these two compact cameras:

Choose the Olympus TG-850 iHS if:

• You crave a robust, weather-sealed camera for outdoor adventures and travel. Waterproofing isn’t just a marketing point - it genuinely protected me in wet and dusty environments.
• You want better low light, sharper images, and faster autofocus, invaluable for wildlife or spontaneous family moments.
• You value Full HD video with image stabilization, allowing casual video shooting without shaky footage.
• You like having a tilting screen for creative framing and Wi-Fi connectivity for immediate sharing.
• Your budget can stretch to around $250 for a tough, versatile compact.

Opt for the Pentax Optio H90 if:

• Your priority is extreme lightweight portability and a more pocket-friendly form.
• You prefer the longer 140mm telephoto zoom for casual distant shooting without the need for speed or ruggedness.
• You accept more modest image quality and lack of RAW or advanced AF features.
• You’re strictly a budget-conscious beginner or casual snapshot taker wanting a simple camera around $150.
• Video and weatherproofing are non-factors for your use case.

A Photographer’s Hands-On Insight

In my own diverse shooting contexts - from hiking in humid forests to bustling city streets - the Olympus TG-850 stood out as my go-to “take anywhere” compact. It’s not perfect - low-light noise and absence of RAW support limit professional use - but its combination of toughness, zoom versatility, and decent autofocus mark it as a reliable companion.

The Pentax H90, meanwhile, reminded me of early 2010s compact cameras that were lightweight but missing advanced features that photographers increasingly expect today. It’s perfectly fine if you want a no-frills device for simple vacation snaps, but for serious or adventurous photography, the Olympus delivers far more value.

This detailed head-to-head reflects my full testing experience coupled with practical knowledge of what modern photographers require. I hope it helps you pinpoint the right fit, whether you’re a rugged explorer or a casual enthusiast searching for a dependable compact camera.

Safe shooting and happy clicking!