Olympus TG-860 vs Pentax K-1

Below is a in depth comparison of the Olympus TG-860 vs Pentax K-1, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the TG-860 (1/2.3") and K-1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-860 was manufactured 12 months earlier than the K-1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the TG-860 scores versus the K-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 and Pentax K-1. The entire galleries are available at Olympus TG-860 Gallery and Pentax K-1 Gallery.

For those who are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-860 enjoys external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-860 vs Pentax K-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the TG-860 compared to the K-1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and K-1 is 91 and 55 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-860 and K-1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-860 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-1 will give greater detail due to its extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older TG-860 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.