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Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35
Olympus TG-310 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched December 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus TG-310 versus Pentax K-x, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the TG-310 (14MP) and the K-x (12MP) is pretty well matched but the TG-310 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The TG-310 was manufactured 13 months after the K-x which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the TG-310 grades versus the K-x in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Pentax K-x

 TG-310 K-x 
LaunchedJanuary 2011December 2009More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Olympus TG-310

 K-x TG-310 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-310 and Pentax K-x

 TG-310 K-x 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-310 enjoys outside dimensions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-310 versus Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera & 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 during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the TG-310 against the K-x.

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-310 and K-x is 94 and 69 respectively.

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The pic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-310 and K-x.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-310 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus TG-310 will give extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern TG-310 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-x Portrait photography details
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-310 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Street photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (155g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-310
Sports photography with Pentax K-x
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (150 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (1,900 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-310 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competition in class (155 grams)
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (150 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
54
good battery (1,900 CIPA)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-x Landscape photography highlights
39
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery (150 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (1,900 CIPA)
small screen (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-310 Vlogging info
Pentax K-x Vlogging info
32
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (155g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus TG-310 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-310 and Pentax K-x
 Olympus TG-310Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus TG-310 Pentax K-x
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-01-06 2009-12-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Prime
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Largest aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.20 m 16.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 155 grams (0.34 pounds) 580 grams (1.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 811
Other
Battery life 150 shots 1900 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $600