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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Launched January 2006
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax ist DL2, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the TG-3 (1/2.3") and ist DL2 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The TG-3 was brought out 8 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the TG-3 grades versus the ist DL2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Pentax ist DL2

 TG-3 ist DL2 
LaunchedMarch 2014January 2006Fresher by 100 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kSharper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus TG-3

 ist DL2 TG-3 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Pentax ist DL2

 TG-3 ist DL2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-3 offers external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-3 versus Pentax ist DL2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-3 against the ist DL2.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and ist DL2 is 90 and 69 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through specifications. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and ist DL2.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The TG-3 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Olympus TG-3 will provide extra detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger TG-3 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography factors
37
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
51
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography factors
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (565g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography highlights
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery power (330 shots)
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
39
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Travel photography camera
74
better than average battery power (330 shots)
weather proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (247g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
52
lighter than competition in class (565g)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography highlights
56
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proof
better than average battery power (330 shots)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
47
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging advice
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging advice
34
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competition (247g)
22
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low ( pxls)
no external microphone jack
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Olympus TG-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus Tough TG-3Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Pentax ist DL2
Type Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Released 2014-03-31 2006-01-27
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 5
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 pounds) 565 gr (1.25 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B 4 x AA
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/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $350 -