Olympus TG-810 vs Pentax WG-3 GPS: A Comprehensive Waterproof Compact Camera Comparison

When it comes to rugged, waterproof cameras designed for active photographers who want dependable gear without lugging around large bodies and lenses, the Olympus TG-810 and Pentax WG-3 GPS stand out as popular contenders. Both are compact adventure-ready cameras with weatherproofing, GPS, and handy features aimed primarily at hikers, divers, and travelers who need something tough yet capable.

I’ve spent extensive hands-on time testing each, putting them through the wringer across various photography genres and conditions - from macro flower shots to underwater landscapes. In this detailed comparison, I’ll break down their technical underpinnings, real-world performance, and usability. This way, you get the full picture and can pick the best match for your creative pursuits and budget.

Let’s dive in.

Design and Handling: Compact Versus Comfortable Ruggedness

Right out of the gate, you'll notice these two cameras look and feel quite different, so determining which suits your style is key.

The Olympus TG-810 is smaller and lighter - measuring 100 x 65 x 26 mm and weighing just 215 grams. It uses a straightforward, no-frills compact design which is waterproof to 10m and freezeproof down to -10°C. Ideal if you want something pocketable for quick shots on hikes or around waterfalls. Ergonomically, the TG-810’s grip is modest but functional, with clearly marked buttons but no touchscreen.

The Pentax WG-3 GPS ups the ante on ruggedness with crushproof construction (up to 100kg!), waterproof to 14m, and freezeproof to -10°C. It’s chunkier at 125 x 64 x 33 mm and 238 grams - still manageable but more substantial. The grip is more pronounced and secure for wet or gloved hands, plus the buttons have decent travel, which I appreciated during cold-weather shooting. The anti-reflective coating on its 3-inch LCD makes it easier to see in bright sunlight, an important plus for outdoor photography.

Both have built-in GPS for geotagging, a perk for travelers and explorers documenting their journeys. I prefer the WG-3 GPS for outdoor excursions requiring durability and a solid feel, but the TG-810 wins on portability when size is paramount.

Intuitive Control Layout and Interface: Which One Gets You Shooting Faster?

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, but both feature fixed 3-inch LCDs for composition and review (more on screen quality later). Both designs avoid complexity, targeting casual shooters rather than tech-heavy enthusiasts.

The TG-810 (TruePic III+ processor inside) sticks to a simple interface with no manual focus, no exposure priority modes, and basic autofocus with contrast detection. It’s built to “point and shoot” with face detection and a limited autofocus area system. This is fine if you want straightforward operation but frustrating if you prefer control. No continuous autofocus or burst shooting to speak of.

By contrast, the WG-3 GPS offers manual focus - a rarity in this segment - and a 9-point contrast-detection AF system. There’s face detection too, but it lacks continuous AF and advanced tracking modes. Its physical controls are a bit more responsive and logical, with a dedicated macro lever enabling extremely close focusing (1cm!), which is a big plus for macro lovers.

Neither has touchscreen capability, so reliance on physical buttons is mandatory. Both cameras favour quick access to flash modes, self-timers, and burst modes (though Olympus only shoots 1fps). For users wanting granular control, the Pentax edges slightly ahead thanks to manual focus and macro specialization.

Sensor and Image Quality: Sharpness, Noise, and Color Rendition

Under the hood, both cameras feature small 1/2.3-inch sensors common to rugged compacts, but with significant tech differences impacting image quality.

The Olympus TG-810 uses a 14-megapixel CCD sensor, a bit outdated but still capable in good light. CCD sensors often deliver pleasing color depth and natural gradations, and the TG-810 does well capturing skin tones in portrait scenarios. However, the CCD limits dynamic range and low-light sensitivity, maxing out at ISO 1600 native without boosted ISO options. Noise starts creeping in at ISO 800, making it less suitable for dim conditions or night shots.

The Pentax WG-3 GPS employs a newer 16-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor, which comes with enhanced light sensitivity and better noise control. It boosts max native ISO to 6400, allowing more usable photos in low light and nighttime settings. Colors look vibrant, and the sensor handles dynamic range better than the Olympus. Notably, maximum resolution is higher (4608 x 3456 pixels) versus 4288 x 3216 for the TG-810, offering slightly more detail in landscapes and wildlife close-ups.

Both offer an anti-alias filter to prevent moiré, but I noticed Pentax’s CMOS sensor tends to produce cleaner, crisper images overall. The Olympus CCD can look a little softer, especially when shooting fast-moving subjects with its slower shutter responses.

Screen Quality and Live View: What You See Is What You Get

Despite the same diagonal size (3 inches), the LCD screens tell different stories.

The TG-810’s fixed TFT Hypercrystal III LCD packs 920k dots, resulting in a bright, clear, and reasonably punchy display. It performs well indoors and outdoors under shade, but direct sunlight causes some glare - typical of not having an anti-reflective coating.

The Pentax WG-3 GPS offers a widescreen TFT LCD with 460k dots, which sounds lower resolution but benefits from an anti-reflective coating that drastically improves visibility under bright daylight. For adventure photographers shooting in harsh environments, this is a notable advantage.

Neither screen supports touch input or articulation, limiting flexibility. However, both support live view for framing and menu navigation, though the WG-3 struggles a bit with latency compared to the Olympus’s snappier refresh. This difference showed up when composing fast action shots where the Olympus felt peppier on the live feed.

Versatile Lens and Focusing: How Far and Close Can You Get?

Optically, the TG-810 sports a 28-140mm (5x zoom, 35mm equivalent) lens with an aperture range of F3.9-5.9. It isn’t particularly fast, meaning indoor or low-light zoom shots require higher ISO or flash assistance. Macro focusing kicks in from 3cm, decent but not outstanding.

The WG-3 GPS lens is wider at 25-100mm (4x zoom) but faster, with an aperture range of F2.0-4.9. The wider aperture at wide-angle helps capture sharper images in lower light or achieve a shallow depth of field for portraits. Critically, its macro focus can reach as close as 1cm, allowing for impressive extreme close-ups - ideal if you like intricate textures or critter photography.

The Pentax’s manual focus makes dialing in macro details easier, compared to the TG-810’s autofocus-only system. Neither camera offers interchangeable lenses, so you rely entirely on their built-in optics. But their offers differ: Olympus delivers more telephoto reach; Pentax delivers wider and faster optics with superior macro ability.

Autofocus, Burst Shooting, and Performance in Action

Action shooters will want to know which model delivers on speed and accuracy.

The TG-810 has a relatively basic contrast-detection autofocus system with face detection. It only shoots at 1 frame per second, which essentially precludes sports or wildlife burst shooting. The AF can hunt slightly in low light, especially at longer zooms or with moving subjects.

Pentax’s WG-3 GPS provides a 9-point AF system also based on contrast detection, along with face detection. It lacks continuous AF but generally delivers quicker and more accurate focus locks in daylight compared to Olympus. Unfortunately, burst frame rates are unspecified, indicating they are not a prominent feature. Still, the WG-3 can better track faces and nearby moving subjects within its autofocus scope.

Neither camera supports phase-detection AF or advanced tracking modes. For serious wildlife or sports shooters, these compacts may feel limiting compared to interchangeable lens mirrorless or DSLR systems, but they perform admirably given their rugged profiles.

Image Stabilization and Flash: Helping You Capture Sharper Shots

Both models come with sensor-shift image stabilization, a critical feature in compact cameras with longer lenses to reduce camera shake blur.

The Olympus TG-810 claims effective stabilization, which I confirmed most notably at moderate zoom levels. The sensor-shift system helps handheld shots at slower shutter speeds but is less effective in very low light where ISO noise rises.

The Pentax WG-3 GPS also incorporates sensor-shift IS and provides consistent stabilization across zoom and macro ranges. Its slightly faster lens aperture enhances this synergy, letting you shoot handheld in lower light without flash.

Both cameras feature built-in flashes with multiple modes. Olympus provides flash coverage up to 4.2 meters, while Pentax’s flash effective range is about 3.4 meters. Pentax offers a “soft” flash mode useful for portraits, which I found enhances skin tone rendering by reducing harsh shadows. Olympus’s flash modes include standard fill and red-eye reduction but no specific soft mode.

Neither supports external flash units, limiting professional lighting options but keeping the compact size intact.

Olympus TG 810 front Olympus TG 810 screen back Pentax WG 3 GPS front Pentax WG 3 GPS screen back

Image Samples: How Do Photos Look Out of Camera?

Looking at real photos side by side, a few things jumped out:

• Portraits: The TG-810’s color rendition is gentle and forgiving on skin tones; it’s not overly saturated, which I appreciate. Pentax images are more vibrant but can lean towards punchy colors that may require dialing back in post.

• Landscapes: Pentax wins with sharper detail and wider dynamic range, retaining more highlight and shadow information. Olympus photos sometimes show slight softness and limited contrast in complex scenes.

• Macro shots: The WG-3 excels thanks to the 1cm macro focusing and faster lens. Fine textures and small details are crisp and well-resolved, making it my pick for close-up enthusiasts.

• Low light and night: Pentax delivers cleaner, more usable images at ISO 1600 and above. The Olympus struggles here due to sensor limitations and smaller maximum aperture.

Video Capabilities: HD but Limited Options

For casual video recording, both cameras offer Full HD:

• Olympus TG-810 shoots 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps.
• Pentax WG-3 GPS shoots 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, plus 720p at 60 fps options.

Neither camera supports 4K video or high frame rate slow motion. Neither has microphone or headphone ports, limiting audio control. Both record in MPEG-4/H.264 format and have basic in-camera stabilization during video capture.

The WG-3 GPS’s higher resolution video and 60fps mode give it an edge for smoother motion capture. However, both are limited compared to today’s standard mirrorless cameras intended for hybrid photo/video use.

Durability and Environmental Sealing: Designed for Adventure

Where these cameras truly shine is ruggedness.

• Olympus TG-810: Waterproof to 10m, shockproof from 2m drops, dustproof, and freezeproof to -10°C.
• Pentax WG-3 GPS: Waterproof to 14m (deeper by 4m), crushproof up to 100kg, shockproof from 1.5m drops, dustproof, and freezeproof to -10°C.

The WG-3’s crushproofing and extra waterproof depth appeal to serious adventurers and divers who need gear that won’t quit under pressure or rough handling. The TG-810 is more compact but less robust under extreme conditions.

Performance Across Photography Genres: Which Camera Shines Where?

• Portraits: Olympus TG-810’s gentle tones and good face detection help deliver pleasing portraits, but shallow depth of field is limited by the smaller aperture. Pentax’s faster lens adds creative flexibility but has punchier colors some might need to tone down.

• Landscape: WG-3 GPS wins with superior resolution and dynamic range - more detail is apparent in wide scenes.

• Wildlife: Neither camera excels due to slow continuous shooting rates and basic AF; Pentax’s quicker autofocus offers a slight advantage.

• Sports: Burst and tracking are minimal on both; I wouldn’t recommend these cameras for fast-paced sports photography.

• Street: Olympus’s smaller size makes it easier to carry and blend in, but both offer solid weather sealing for rain or dust.

• Macro: Pentax WG-3 GPS is the king with 1cm focusing and manual focus control.

• Night/Astro: Pentax’s higher ISO capability and lower noise make it a better choice; TG-810 is less suited here.

• Video: Pentax’s 1080p and 60fps modes outperform Olympus’s 720p cap.

• Travel: Olympus is lighter and more compact; Pentax offers more ruggedness and lens versatility.

• Professional Work: Neither is designed for professional image quality or workflow integration - no RAW support and limited control modes restrict serious professional use.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

Both cameras use proprietary rechargeable battery packs:

• Olympus TG-810: LI-50B, rated for 220 shots per charge.
• Pentax WG-3 GPS: D-LI92, slightly better at 240 shots.

Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with single slots. Pentax adds internal memory, which can be a lifesaver if you forget a card.

Connectivity-wise, both have Eye-Fi card support for wireless image transfer but lack Bluetooth or NFC. HDMI outputs exist for direct viewing, and USB 2.0 speeds are standard. So for quick transfers or tethering, they suffice but lack modern wireless convenience.

Which Camera Offers the Best Value?

• Olympus TG-810: Around $430 new (based on current listings)
• Pentax WG-3 GPS: Around $350 new, often found lower used

The Pentax WG-3 GPS delivers notably more features for less money: faster lens, higher resolution sensor, better video, crushproofing, and macro focus. The Olympus TG-810 holds appeal for its compact size and more user-friendly interface but feels outdated in image quality and specs.

Final Thoughts: Matching Features to Your Photography Lifestyle

To sum up:

• If you want a rugged yet truly pocketable camera with straightforward controls, modest zoom reach, and decent image quality for everyday adventures - and size plus ease-of-use tops your list - Olympus TG-810 is compelling.

• If your priorities lean toward versatility, tougher durability (crushproof and deeper waterproofing), better image quality with a faster lens, true macro capability, and Full HD 1080p video, all for a friendlier price, the Pentax WG-3 GPS is the smarter choice.

Both cameras are durable compact shooters aimed at outdoor enthusiasts rather than professional photographers - if you want pro-grade control, interchangeable lenses, or high-res raw files, you’d look elsewhere.

Whichever model you pick, they’re reliable partners for getting creative while jumping in a river, trekking a mountain, or capturing close-up critters in the wild.

Happy rugged shooting!

If you want deeper insight, check my detailed hands-on video review linked above, where I demonstrate image results and explain nuance beyond spec sheets.

Feel free to ask me any follow-up questions on which camera suits your specific shooting style or environment - I’m here to help!