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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase 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
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Released August 2014
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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax Q-S1, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the TG-870 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The TG-870 was revealed 18 months after the Q-S1 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the TG-870 grades against the Q-S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Pentax Q-S1

 TG-870 Q-S1 
ReleasedJanuary 2016August 2014More modern by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus TG-870

 Q-S1 TG-870 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax Q-S1

 TG-870 Q-S1 
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 features 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 Q-S1 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax Q-S1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the TG-870 against the Q-S1.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and Q-S1 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading specifications. The image below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-870 and Q-S1.

Plainly, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-870 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus TG-870 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The newer TG-870 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography features
36
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
46
focusing manually
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography factors
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition (221g)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (203 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography factors
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery life (300 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
37
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking focus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
terrible battery pack (250 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography factors
69
good battery life (300 CIPA)
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (21mm)
more heavy than competition (221g)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
60
lighter than competitors (203 grams)
built-in flash
terrible battery pack (250 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography features
50
decently wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
good battery life (300 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
terrible battery pack (250 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Vlogging camera
32
decently wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (221g)
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (203 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have microphone port
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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Pentax Q-S1
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2016-01-06 2014-08-04
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Q Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lbs) 203 grams (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 250 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $280 $250