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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(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
  • Released April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Successor is Olympus TG-5
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is very well matched but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The TG-4 was brought out 2 years later than the K-30 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the TG-4 grades versus the K-30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Pentax K-30

 TG-4 K-30 
AnnouncedApril 2015October 2012Fresher by 30 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus TG-4

 K-30 TG-4 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-30

 TG-4 K-30 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-4 has got physical 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) and the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the TG-4 and the K-30.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-4 and K-30 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to see the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at specifications. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and K-30.

Plainly, the 2 cameras provide the same resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The TG-4 contains the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more difficult. The newer TG-4 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-4
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
47
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-30 Sports photography advice
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery life (380 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
74
good battery life (380 CIPA)
weather proofing
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (247g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
60
weather sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (410 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
62
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
good battery life (380 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging features
Pentax K-30 Vlogging features
34
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus Tough TG-4Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Pentax K-30
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Released 2015-04-13 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Prime M
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 grams (0.54 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 380 images 410 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI109,4 x AA
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
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $379 $525