Clicky

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q Key Specs

Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2014
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Announced June 2011
  • Updated by Pentax Q10
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q Overview

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and Q (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The TG-850 iHS was introduced 2 years after the Q which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the TG-850 iHS scores against the Q in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Pentax Q

 TG-850 iHS Q 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014June 2011Newer by 32 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 Q TG-850 iHS 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Pentax Q

 TG-850 iHS Q 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-850 iHS has got physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Pentax Q has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") along with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the TG-850 iHS vs the Q.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-850 iHS and Q is 91 and 93 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The picture below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-850 iHS and Q.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus TG-850 iHS to deliver greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The newer TG-850 iHS provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography features
Pentax Q Portrait photography features
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography features
Pentax Q Street photography features
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (180g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Sports photography highlights
Pentax Q Sports photography highlights
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
good battery pack (330 shots)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (230 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography advice
Pentax Q Travel photography advice
72
good battery pack (330 shots)
environment sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (21mm)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
57
lighter than competition (180g)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (230 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography details
Pentax Q Landscape photography details
50
quite wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
environment sealing
good battery pack (330 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
51
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging advice
Pentax Q Vlogging advice
33
quite wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no microphone support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (180g)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Pentax Q
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSPentax Q
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Pentax Q
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-01-29 2011-06-23
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4616 x 3464 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Total lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 1/2s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.60 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Yes None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 218 gr (0.48 lb) 180 gr (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 47
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 189
Other
Battery life 330 shots 230 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $250 $695