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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax Q-S1, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-3 was introduced 4 months before the Q-S1 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the TG-3 matches up vs the Q-S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Pentax Q-S1

 TG-3 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus TG-3

 Q-S1 TG-3 
Manually focus More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Pentax Q-S1

 TG-3 Q-S1 
RevealedMarch 2014August 2014Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-3 provides outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Pentax Q-S1 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax Q-S1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-3 and the Q-S1.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and Q-S1 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and Q-S1.

As you can see, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TG-3 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Olympus TG-3 will give you more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography factors
37
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
46
has manual focus
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography details
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography details
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than others in class (247g)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (203g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
Sports photography with Pentax Q-S1
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery (330 per charge)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
37
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
low battery life (250 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery (330 shots)
weather proof
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (247g)
display is not selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition in class (203g)
has built in flash
low battery life (250 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
56
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proof
great battery (330 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
low battery life (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging factors
34
decently wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
heavier than others in class (247g)
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (203 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus Tough TG-3Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Pentax Q-S1
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-03-31 2014-08-04
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Q Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-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 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 lb) 203g (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 250 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $350 $250