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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-5
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-30
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus TG-4 versus Pentax K-50, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is very similar but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and K-50 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The TG-4 was unveiled 17 months after the K-50 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the TG-4 scores versus the K-50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Pentax K-50

 TG-4 K-50 
ReleasedApril 2015November 2013More modern by 17 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus TG-4

 K-50 TG-4 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-50

 TG-4 K-50 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-4 has outer measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-4 versus Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-4 and the K-50.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-4 and K-50 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and K-50.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The TG-4 has got the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF more difficult. The more modern TG-4 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Portrait photography camera
47
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (247g)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
great ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
heavier than competitors (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Sports photography highlights
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Pentax K-50
74
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
56
environment proofing
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (410 shots)
heavier than competitors (650g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Landscape photography camera
62
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery life (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
34
rather wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
more heavy than average (247 grams)
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
heavier than competitors (650 grams)
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus Tough TG-4Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Pentax K-50
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-04-13 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII PRIME M
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 25 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 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 data 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 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247g (0.54 lbs) 650g (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 1120
Other
Battery life 380 images 410 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI109
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
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $379 $610