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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Released February 2012
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus TG-820 iHS and Pentax K-500, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the TG-820 iHS (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the TG-820 iHS (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The TG-820 iHS was brought out 21 months earlier than the K-500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-820 iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the TG-820 iHS matches up vs the K-500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Pentax K-500

 TG-820 iHS K-500 
Screen resolution1030k921kCrisper screen (+109k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 K-500 TG-820 iHS 
AnnouncedNovember 2013February 2012More recent by 21 months
Manual focus More exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-820 iHS and Pentax K-500

 TG-820 iHS K-500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-820 iHS features outside dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-820 iHS and Pentax K-500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the TG-820 iHS versus the K-500.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-820 iHS and K-500 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements just by going through technical specs. The photograph below will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-820 iHS and K-500.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-820 iHS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-500 will produce greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older TG-820 iHS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
27
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Street photography advice
Pentax K-500 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery power (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Travel photography highlights
59
weather proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
low battery power (220 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
67
great battery power (710 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery power (220 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-820 iHS and Pentax K-500
 Olympus TG-820 iHSPentax K-500
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus TG-820 iHS Pentax K-500
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-02-08 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,030 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206 grams (0.45 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 710 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $500 $600