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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Replaced the Pentax K-3
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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax K-3 II, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the TG-870 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The TG-870 was brought out 9 months later than the K-3 II which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the TG-870 grades against the K-3 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Pentax K-3 II

 TG-870 K-3 II 
IntroducedJanuary 2016April 2015More recent by 9 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus TG-870

 K-3 II TG-870 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k921kSharper display (+116k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax K-3 II

 TG-870 K-3 II 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-870 provides exterior measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the TG-870 vs the K-3 II.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and K-3 II is 91 and 59 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The photograph underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and K-3 II.

All in all, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-870 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-3 II will deliver more detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The fresher TG-870 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
36
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
79
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than average in class (221g)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
good battery (300 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography details
69
good battery (300 shots)
environment sealing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (21mm)
heavier than average in class (221g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
56
weather sealing
resolution is good (24MP)
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography information
50
quite wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
good battery (300 CIPA)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Vlogging camera
32
quite wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
heavier than average in class (221g)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Pentax K-3 II
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2016-01-06 2015-04-23
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Prime III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max enhanced ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 gr (0.49 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 300 photos 720 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One Dual
Pricing at release $280 $829