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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-4
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Old Model is Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax K-5, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The TG-3 was introduced 3 years after the K-5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-3 matches up vs the K-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Pentax K-5

 TG-3 K-5 
RevealedMarch 2014December 2010More modern by 40 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus TG-3

 K-5 TG-3 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Pentax K-5

 TG-3 K-5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-3 comes with exterior measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax K-5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the TG-3 versus the K-5.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and K-5 is 90 and 60 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The image underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and K-5.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The TG-3 includes the smaller sensor which will make getting shallower DOF trickier. The fresher TG-3 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
37
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 Street photography information
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competition in class (247g)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 Sports photography details
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery pack (330 shots)
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (247 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
65
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography advice
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
environment proof
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging information
Pentax K-5 Vlogging information
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (247g)
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus Tough TG-3Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Pentax K-5
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-03-31 2010-12-18
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Prime II
Sensor type BSI-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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT-LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 pounds) 740 gr (1.63 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 330 photos 980 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $350 $800