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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-3
  • New Model is Olympus TG-5
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty similar but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-4 was launched 17 months later than the K-500 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the TG-4 scores vs the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Pentax K-500

 TG-4 K-500 
RevealedApril 2015November 2013More recent by 17 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus TG-4

 K-500 TG-4 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-500

 TG-4 K-500 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-4 has got outside 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) while the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 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 working with at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the TG-4 against the K-500.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-4 and K-500 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading specifications. The graphic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and K-500.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The TG-4 comes with the tinier sensor which should make achieving bokeh harder. The more recent TG-4 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
47
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Pentax K-500
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (247g)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
above average ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-4
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery (380 shots)
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
better than average battery pack (710 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography features
Pentax K-500 Travel photography features
74
great battery (380 per charge)
environment sealing
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than others in class (247g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
62
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
great battery (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
34
pretty wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (247g)
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no mic socket
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus Tough TG-4Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Pentax K-500
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-04-13 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247g (0.54 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
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 score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 710 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $379 $600