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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Announced February 2012
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Pentax MX-1, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the TG-820 iHS (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the TG-820 iHS (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor sizes.

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The TG-820 iHS was manufactured 16 months earlier than the MX-1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the TG-820 iHS grades vs the MX-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Pentax MX-1

 TG-820 iHS MX-1 
Display resolution1030k920kClearer display (+110k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 MX-1 TG-820 iHS 
AnnouncedJuly 2013February 2012Newer by 16 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus TG-820 iHS and Pentax MX-1

 TG-820 iHS MX-1 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-820 iHS has outer measurements 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 MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-820 iHS versus Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-820 iHS versus the MX-1.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the TG-820 iHS and MX-1 is 92 and 84 respectively.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions purely by checking out specs. The image below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-820 iHS and MX-1.

All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact MP but different sensor dimensions. The TG-820 iHS provides the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF harder. The more aged TG-820 iHS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
27
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
42
focusing manually
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Sports photography features
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
great battery pack (290 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
59
environment sealing
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery life (220 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
61
great battery pack (290 per charge)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-820 iHS Landscape photography info
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
38
decently wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not available
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
55
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-820 iHS
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
33
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
33
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
more heavy than competitors (391g)
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Olympus TG-820 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-820 iHS and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus TG-820 iHSPentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus TG-820 iHS Pentax MX-1
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-08 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,030 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 206 grams (0.45 pounds) 391 grams (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 220 shots 290 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $500 $400