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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(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
  • Announced April 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus TG-3
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-5
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-3, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the TG-4 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-4 was introduced 13 months after the K-3 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the TG-4 grades vs the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Pentax K-3

 TG-4 K-3 
IntroducedApril 2015April 2014Newer by 13 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus TG-4

 K-3 TG-4 
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-3

 TG-4 K-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-4 provides external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-4 compared to the K-3.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the TG-4 and K-3 is 90 and 59 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching a spec sheet. The pic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and K-3.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TG-4 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 will result in greater detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher TG-4 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
47
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
79
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Street photography information
Pentax K-3 Street photography information
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (247g)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-3 Sports photography advice
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery power (380 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (560 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
74
great battery power (380 CIPA)
environment proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
60
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery pack (560 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
62
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
great battery power (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
not so great battery pack (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging info
Pentax K-3 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no external microphone jack
more heavy than average (247g)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic support
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus Tough TG-4Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Pentax K-3
Category Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-04-13 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Prime III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 380 images 560 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Dual
Cost at release $379 $639