Olympus TG-320 vs Pentax K-500

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus TG-320 and Pentax K-500, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the TG-320 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the TG-320 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-320 was announced 22 months prior to the K-500 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-320 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the TG-320 matches up vs the K-500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus TG-320 and Pentax K-500. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus TG-320 Gallery and Pentax K-500 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-320 enjoys physical measurements of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-320 and Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-320 against the K-500.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-320 and K-500 is 94 and 64 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The visual here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-320 and K-500.

Plainly, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-320 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will provide extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older TG-320 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.