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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q 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
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • New Model is Olympus TG-5
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Launched June 2011
  • Renewed by Pentax Q10
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and Q (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-4 was unveiled 3 years later than the Q and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the TG-4 matches up vs the Q with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Pentax Q

 TG-4 Q 
LaunchedApril 2015June 2011Fresher by 47 months

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Olympus TG-4

 Q TG-4 

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Pentax Q

 TG-4 Q 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-4 provides outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the TG-4 versus the Q.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the TG-4 and Q is 90 and 93 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-4 and Q.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-4 to offer you more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern TG-4 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax Q Portrait photography highlights
47
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
45
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Pentax Q
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than average in class (247 grams)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (180 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography info
Pentax Q Sports photography info
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Travel photography information
Pentax Q Travel photography information
74
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
environment proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average in class (247 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
57
lighter than competition (180g)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q as a Landscape photography camera
62
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
51
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q Vlogging factors
34
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than average in class (247g)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (180 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
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Olympus TG-4 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Pentax Q
 Olympus Tough TG-4Pentax Q
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Tough TG-4 Pentax Q
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-04-13 2011-06-23
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 8
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lb) 180 gr (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 47
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 189
Other
Battery life 380 photos 230 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI68
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/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $379 $695