Clicky

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Raise 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
  • Old Model is Olympus TG-860
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus TG-870 versus Pentax RS1500, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is fairly comparable and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The TG-870 was revealed 4 years later than the RS1500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the TG-870 grades vs the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Pentax RS1500

 TG-870 RS1500 
IntroducedJanuary 2016March 2011Fresher by 59 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus TG-870

 RS1500 TG-870 
Focus manually More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax RS1500

 TG-870 RS1500 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-870 provides exterior measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-870 versus Pentax RS1500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-870 vs the RS1500.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and RS1500 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The photograph underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and RS1500.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus TG-870 to show more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively. The newer TG-870 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography details
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography details
36
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
35
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Street photography factors
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than competition (221g)
54
weather proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography features
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
37
MP count good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography advice
69
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
environment proof
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (21mm)
heavier than competition (221g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
67
weather proofing
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography highlights
50
really wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
environment proof
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
40
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-870
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
32
really wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
heavier than competition (221 grams)
25
fairly wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-01-06 2011-03-16
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lbs) 157 grams (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 260 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $280 $150