Clicky

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus TG-1 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 112 x 67 x 30mm
  • Launched May 2012
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Pentax MX-1, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the TG-1 iHS (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the TG-1 iHS (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The TG-1 iHS was manufactured 13 months before the MX-1 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the TG-1 iHS grades versus the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

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

 TG-1 iHS MX-1 

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

 MX-1 TG-1 iHS 
AnnouncedJuly 2013May 2012More recent by 13 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k610kCrisper display (+310k dot)

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

 TG-1 iHS MX-1 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

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

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-1 iHS features outer dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-1 iHS and Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-1 iHS and the MX-1.

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

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-1 iHS and MX-1 is 91 and 84 respectively.

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

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

Usually, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through specs. The graphic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-1 iHS and MX-1.

All in all, both of these cameras have got the exact same resolution but different sensor measurements. The TG-1 iHS contains the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF tougher. The older TG-1 iHS is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Portrait photography features
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography features
27
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
42
you can focus manually
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391g)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery pack (350 per charge)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery (290 per charge)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Travel photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
68
great battery pack (350 shots)
weather sealing
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
61
better than average battery (290 shots)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average (391 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Landscape photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography highlights
46
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-1 iHS Vlogging factors
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging factors
36
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
33
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no mic port
heavier than average (391g)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus TG-1 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-1 iHS and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus Tough TG-1 iHSPentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS Pentax MX-1
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-05-08 2013-07-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 610k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 391 gr (0.86 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 67 x 30mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 290 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI90B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $399 $400