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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Released June 2013
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The TG-2 iHS was brought out 2 years after the RS1500 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the TG-2 iHS grades versus the RS1500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Pentax RS1500

 TG-2 iHS RS1500 
IntroducedJune 2013March 2011Newer by 28 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kClearer screen (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 RS1500 TG-2 iHS 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax RS1500

 TG-2 iHS RS1500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-2 iHS offers physical dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-2 iHS versus the RS1500.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-2 iHS and RS1500 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The image underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-2 iHS and RS1500.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Pentax RS1500 to resolve extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern TG-2 iHS should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography features
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography features
27
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
35
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
54
environment proof
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography info
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery life (350 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
37
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Travel photography with Pentax RS1500
68
good battery life (350 CIPA)
weather sealing
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
67
environment proof
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
46
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
good battery life (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
40
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
environment proof
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Vlogging features
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging features
36
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
25
decently wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-28 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 610 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology OLED TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 3.90 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 260 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $380 $150