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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-860
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-870 was launched 3 years later than the K-30 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the TG-870 scores versus the K-30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Pentax K-30

 TG-870 K-30 
ReleasedJanuary 2016October 2012More recent by 39 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus TG-870

 K-30 TG-870 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax K-30

 TG-870 K-30 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-870 features external dimensions 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-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the TG-870 and the K-30.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and K-30 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through specs. The graphic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and K-30.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The TG-870 features the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower DOF trickier. The newer TG-870 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
36
good MP (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography info
Pentax K-30 Street photography info
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competition (221 grams)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography info
Pentax K-30 Sports photography info
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (300 shots)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography info
Pentax K-30 Travel photography info
69
better than average battery power (300 CIPA)
weather proofing
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (21mm)
heavier than competition (221g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
50
quite wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
weather proofing
better than average battery power (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
terrible battery pack (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-30 Vlogging factors
32
quite wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
heavier than competition (221 grams)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Pentax K-30
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2016-01-06 2012-10-29
Body design Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Prime M
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 300 images 410 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $280 $525