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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-4
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2011
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax RZ18, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was launched 2 years later than the RZ18 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the TG-3 scores vs the RZ18 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Pentax RZ18

 TG-3 RZ18 
LaunchedMarch 2014September 2011Fresher by 32 months

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus TG-3

 RZ18 TG-3 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Pentax RZ18

 TG-3 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-3 has exterior dimensions 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 RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax RZ18 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the TG-3 against the RZ18.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and RZ18 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through specs. The visual here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-3 and RZ18.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same megapixels so you should expect similar quality of files though you need to take the release date of the products into consideration. The newer TG-3 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-3
Portrait photography with Pentax RZ18
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
36
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than average (247g)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than others (178g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography highlights
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery pack (330 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography details
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography details
74
great battery pack (330 per charge)
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
71
lighter than others (178g)
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography factors
56
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather proofing
great battery pack (330 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
49
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging features
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging features
34
fairly wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (247 grams)
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (178 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus Tough TG-3Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-03-31 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT-LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 247g (0.54 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 330 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $350 $210