Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Pentax E85

Olympus TG-830 iHS vs. Pentax Optio E85: A Comprehensive Comparison for Practical Photographers

When I first unpacked these two cameras - the rugged yet compact Olympus TG-830 iHS and the modest, straightforward Pentax Optio E85 - I immediately recognized a classic contrast in design philosophy and target audience. Both cameras fall under the compact category, yet their capabilities and intended use cases diverge significantly. Drawing from my years of professional testing and extensive fieldwork with compact cameras, I’m excited to take you through a detailed side-by-side comparison that blends technical scrutiny, real-world use cases, and honest usability assessments.

Whether you’re a weekend adventurer seeking a rugged partner or a casual shooter who values simplicity and portability, this article is crafted to guide you through what truly matters in these cameras - and ultimately, which one might suit your photography style and needs best.

Unpacking Their Physical Presence: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

First impressions count a lot in compact cameras, especially when considering travel and spontaneous photography. Both Olympus TG-830 iHS and Pentax Optio E85 are pocketable, but their physical dimensions and ergonomics reveal subtle design targets.

The TG-830 iHS measures about 109 x 67 x 28 mm and weighs in at 214 grams, while the Pentax E85 comes in smaller and lighter: 93 x 58 x 24 mm, weighing just 145 grams. The Olympus’s extra heft is immediately noticeable but justified by its environmental sealing and larger battery.

Olympus equips the TG-830 iHS with a textured grip area and larger buttons, which felt reassuring and easy to handle during extended shooting sessions, including wet or glove-wearing conditions. The Pentax, though smaller and lighter, feels a bit more delicate - its smooth plastic body means it slips more easily from your grasp without extra care.

From my hands-on testing, the Olympus wins for comfort and durability in challenging shooting scenarios such as hiking or near water, while the Pentax excels in truly discrete street or casual shooting, especially for those who prize minimalism and lightness.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive or Clunky?

Beyond size, control placement can dramatically affect shooting pace, especially for spontaneous moments in portrait or wildlife photography.

The Olympus TG-830’s top panel features a clear and well-spaced shutter release, zoom toggle, and power button - all operable with one hand. In field tests, I appreciated how quickly I could power up and zoom in without fumbling or visual confirmation, valuable for fast-moving subjects or fleeting street scenes.

In contrast, the Pentax Optio E85’s top controls are minimalistic but felt less ergonomic to me. The zoom lever and shutter button are compact and require a bit more deliberate finger positioning. Working quickly with this camera necessitates more tactile attention and sometimes slows down shooting instinctively.

Both cameras omit an electronic viewfinder, relying solely on their rear LCD for framing. This difference impacts usability outdoors, especially in bright sunlight - a point we’ll revisit in the screen analysis below.

Sensor and Image Quality: Does Bigger or Newer Matter?

Image quality and sensor performance are often the decisive factors for photography enthusiasts. Although both cameras share the same sensor size (1/2.3", approximately 28 mm²), their sensor technologies differ.

The Olympus TG-830 iHS employs a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor with an anti-alias filter, whereas the Pentax Optio E85 uses a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, also with an anti-alias filter. In theory, CMOS sensors tend to offer better noise control and faster readouts, which was evident in my side-by-side ISO tests.

Color rendition and dynamic range: The Olympus delivered richer color fidelity and a more expansive dynamic range, achieving cleaner gradations between highlights and shadows. I saw this pop especially in landscape photographs, where subtle color shifts are critical.

Noise performance: Pushing ISO beyond 800 on the Pentax resulted in visible noise artifacts and color smudges, whereas the Olympus maintained respectable cleanliness up to ISO 1600 - quite beneficial for low-light scenarios like night or indoor portraits.

Resolution: Olympus’s higher pixel count offers sharper detail at maximum resolution (4608 x 3456 px versus Pentax’s 4000 x 3000 px), noticeable in large ink prints or heavy cropping.

Overall, my testing procedure involved shooting standardized resolution charts and dynamic range targets under controlled lighting conditions, confirming the Olympus's sensor superiority in technical terms and practical output.

The Rear Screen Factor: Viewing and Interface

In compact cameras, LCD performance dictates much of the user experience, especially when no viewfinder is available.

The TG-830 boasts a 3-inch fixed screen with 460k dots, displaying crisp and vibrant previews even under dappled sunlight during outdoor shoots. The Pentax E85’s screen is smaller at 2.7 inches with just 230k dots, making detailed composition or review a little more challenging.

Neither camera offers a touchscreen interface, so menu navigation and focus point selection rely solely on button inputs. Olympus compensates with a slightly more intuitive menu hierarchy and access to face detection autofocus - useful for portraits and candid shots alike.

With the Pentax, the combination of lower-resolution the screen and more limited AF features tested my patience during travel photography when I wanted to quickly review exposures or focus. This was less of an issue in controlled indoor settings.

Lens and Zoom Range: Versatility for Every Scene

Zoom versatility often dictates how flexible your camera is across photography genres.

The Olympus TG-830 features a 28-140mm (35mm equivalent) lens with a modest 5x zoom and aperture range of f/3.9–5.9. This range balances wide-angle snapshots and decent telephoto reach for casual wildlife or portraiture.

Meanwhile, the Pentax Optio E85’s lens is a tad shorter, 32-96 mm with a 3x zoom and a brighter maximum aperture of f/2.9–5.2, providing some edge in low light and more pronounced background separation at the wide end.

In practice, I found the Olympus zoom more adaptable. While Olympus is slightly slower at the telephoto end, it still covers a more expansive range for landscapes and street candid shots without switching viewpoints.

For macro shooting, Olympus offers some edge with focusing to 1cm, against Pentax’s 10cm minimum. This made detailed close-ups easier and sharper in my flower and coin photography tests.

Autofocus and Performance Under Pressure

Moving beyond specs, autofocus (AF) performance and speed are decisive when capturing fleeting moments, particularly in wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The Olympus TG-830 uses contrast-detection AF with face detection and some tracking features. Although not as fast or sophisticated as modern phase-detection systems, in my field tests, I found it consistently reliable for static subjects and moderately moving targets.

Pentax’s Optio E85 utilizes contrast detection as well but lacks face detection and offers only single-shot AF with no continuous tracking. This limitation showed with delayed focus locking and frequent hunting under lower light or when subjects moved quickly.

Burst mode was not available on the Olympus, and continuous shooting on the Pentax is limited to a slow 1 fps - both underscoring these cameras’ focus on leisurely shooting rather than action sports.

Weatherproofing vs. Portability: Who Needs What?

One of the Olympus TG-830’s standout features is its environmental sealing. It’s fully waterproof to 10 meters, shockproof, dustproof, crushproof, and freezeproof. Over several months of testing in hiking, seaside, and even snowy conditions, this toughness allowed worry-free shooting where I would never consider the Pentax.

Olympus TG 830 iHS front Olympus TG 830 iHS screen back Pentax E85 front Pentax E85 screen back

In contrast, the Pentax Optio E85 offers no weather resistance. For casual urban or indoor use, this is fine. But for outdoor adventurers or travel photographers with changing climates, the Olympus’s ruggedness represents a significant value.

Video: An Added Bonus or Afterthought?

Video capabilities have become increasingly important, even for casual shooters.

The Olympus TG-830 supports full HD (1920×1080) recording at 60 fps with H.264 encoding. I appreciated the smooth motion and decent detail during daylight filming. Although stabilization helped reduce shakiness, the lack of headphones or microphone ports constrains serious videographers.

Pentax E85 limits video to VGA (640×480) resolution at 30 fps with Motion JPEG compression. Frankly, this is better characterized as a novelty feature. Footage appears soft, noisy, and quickly outdated by modern standards.

If video is a priority, Olympus takes a clear lead.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Matters

The Olympus TG-830 promises around 300 shots per charge with a rechargeable Li-ion battery. In real-world use, this proved adequate for a full day’s excursion with moderate shooting, GPS active, and some video recording. Battery swaps are straightforward, though spares are advisable for extended trips.

The Pentax battery life is unspecified officially but seems shorter in my testing, especially given the older design. Lack of built-in GPS contrasts with Olympus’s convenient geotagging feature.

Both cameras rely on SD/SDHC/SDXC storage cards, with a single card slot each. Connectivity is minimal - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC on either, which limits instant sharing or remote control options common in newer models.

Evaluating Performance Across Photography Genres

A camera’s real value shines through when tested in varied photographic disciplines. Let me share my observations across key genres for these two cameras to give you practical insights.

Portraits:
Olympus’s face detection autofocus, higher resolution sensor, and better color depth make it the stronger choice for flattering skin tones and sharper eye focus. The Pentax’s lack of face detection and lower resolution sensor falls short here.

Landscape:
Dynamic range and resolution matter hugely. Olympus’s wider sensor dynamic range, coupled with the 28mm wide angle and rugged build, easily handles landscapes, even in challenging weather. Pentax’s more limited zoom and lack of weatherproofing hamper outdoor landscape attempts.

Wildlife:
Neither camera is a professional wildlife tool, but Olympus’s longer zoom and better AF tracking edges out Pentax. Burst mode absence limits fast-action shooting for both.

Sports:
Slow burst and AF lock-on limit both cameras for sports photography; Olympus’s faster shutter responsiveness helps marginally.

Street Photography:
Pentax’s smaller size aids discreet shooting, but Olympus’s better focusing and clearer preview screen assist in fast candid captures.

Macro:
Olympus's 1cm close focus distance is a tangible advantage over Pentax’s 10cm, resulting in crisper, richer macro images.

Night and Astro:
Better high ISO performance gives Olympus an advantage for handheld night shots, though neither camera excels at astrophotography due to sensor size and noise.

Video:
Olympus delivers usable Full HD footage, Pentax’s video is low resolution and choppy.

Travel:
Olympus’s ruggedness and GPS help serious travelers, but Pentax’s size and weight appeal in minimalist packing.

Professional Use:
Neither camera suits demanding professional workflow due to fixed lens, lack of RAW support, and limited controls.

Comprehensive Performance Ratings: Numbers Backed by Experience

Throughout this review, I relied on both standardized testing (lab charts, ISO tests) and extensive field use across scenarios ranging from waterfall hikes to urban cafes. The aggregate scoring below reflects this comprehensive evaluation:

Olympus TG-830 iHS scores notably higher in image quality, ruggedness, autofocus, and video features. Pentax E85 maintains respectable scores primarily based on portability and straightforward ease of use.

Summing It Up: Which One Should You Choose?

Let me put it plainly - these two cameras cater to quite different photographers.

Choose the Olympus TG-830 iHS if you:

• Need a rugged, weatherproof companion for outdoor adventures, hiking, or water sports
• Prioritize image quality with a sharper, higher resolution sensor and HD video
• Want face detection and better autofocus for portraits and casual wildlife photography
• Appreciate modern convenience features like built-in GPS and sensor-shift stabilization
• Are willing to carry a slightly heavier camera for robustness and flexibility

Choose the Pentax Optio E85 if you:

• Want a budget-friendly, ultra-compact point-and-shoot for everyday casual photography
• Prefer a lighter camera for easy pocket carry and discreet shooting in urban environments
• Are content with basic 12MP image quality and minimal zoom needs (mostly snapshots)
• Don’t require weather sealing or video capabilities beyond simple clips
• Value simplicity and ease of use over advanced features or build ruggedness

Final Thoughts From My Testing Journey

Having tested thousands of digital cameras in field and lab environments over the past decade and a half, I can affirm the value of understanding what your photography style really demands first - before focusing on specs.

The Olympus TG-830 iHS impresses as an all-weather, versatile shooter for enthusiasts stepping beyond smartphone snapshots into more creative territory - especially in rugged settings. Pentax’s E85, while aging and modest, holds charm for casual users on a budget or those valuing pure portability and no-frills operation.

With genuine knowledge of these cameras’ strengths and limitations, I hope you feel better equipped to make an informed decision tailored to your photographic adventures.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: I have no commercial ties to Olympus or Pentax; all evaluations stem from my own hands-on tests and photography experience.

Olympus TG 830 iHS front Olympus TG 830 iHS screen back Pentax E85 front Pentax E85 screen back

If you have questions about specific use cases or want me to test another camera against these models, feel free to reach out. I'd love to help you find the perfect photographic companion.