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Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 190g - 96 x 65 x 26mm
  • Released January 2011
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus TG-610 and Pentax K-500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the TG-610 (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the TG-610 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The TG-610 was announced 3 years earlier than the K-500 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-610 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the TG-610 scores versus the K-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Pentax K-500

 TG-610 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus TG-610

 K-500 TG-610 
IntroducedNovember 2013January 2011More modern by 35 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Pentax K-500

 TG-610 K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-610 provides outer dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-610 and Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-610 versus the K-500.

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-610 and K-500 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking technical specs. The image below will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-610 and K-500.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-610 using its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged TG-610 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography highlights
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-610
Street photography with Pentax K-500
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
very good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-610
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (210 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery life (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-500 Travel photography advice
64
weather proof
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (210 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
67
good battery life (710 CIPA)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
43
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery life (210 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
30
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
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Olympus TG-610 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus TG-610Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus TG-610 Pentax K-500
Type Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-01-06 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 51600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.20 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190g (0.42 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 210 images 710 images
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $223 $600