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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-860
Pentax WG-3 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 238g - 125 x 64 x 33mm
  • Released July 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax WG-3 GPS, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the WG-3 GPS (16MP) is fairly comparable and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was released 2 years later than the WG-3 GPS and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the TG-870 grades vs the WG-3 GPS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 TG-870 WG-3 GPS 
ReleasedJanuary 2016July 2013Fresher by 31 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Olympus TG-870

 WG-3 GPS TG-870 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax WG-3 GPS

 TG-870 WG-3 GPS 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-870 enjoys exterior dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-3 GPS has dimensions of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-870 and Pentax WG-3 GPS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-870 and the WG-3 GPS.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and WG-3 GPS is 91 and 90 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The photograph below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-870 and WG-3 GPS.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical MP and you should expect comparable quality of images though you should really take the production date of the cameras into account. The more recent TG-870 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography factors
36
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
41
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography info
Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography info
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than average (221g)
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than average in class (238g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
Sports photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery (300 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography factors
69
great battery (300 per charge)
weather proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (21mm)
more heavy than average (221 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
weather sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (238 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Landscape photography camera
50
pretty wide (21mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
weather proof
great battery (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
54
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
weather sealing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery pack (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Vlogging camera
32
pretty wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than average (221g)
34
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than average in class (238 grams)
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Olympus TG-870 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Pentax WG-3 GPS
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Pentax WG-3 GPS
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Pentax WG-3 GPS
Class Ultracompact Waterproof
Revealed 2016-01-06 2013-07-19
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 3.40 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lb) 238 grams (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 pictures 240 pictures
Battery form 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
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $280 $350