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Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
63
Features
82
Overall
70

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced May 2017
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-4
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-6
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-S1
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Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus TG-5 and Pentax K-S2, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The TG-5 was unveiled 2 years after the K-S2 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the TG-5 matches up against the K-S2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Pentax K-S2

 TG-5 K-S2 
ReleasedMay 2017February 2015More modern by 28 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus TG-5

 K-S2 TG-5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Pentax K-S2

 TG-5 K-S2 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-5 provides outside dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has dimensions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-5 and Pentax K-S2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the TG-5 and the K-S2.

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-5 and K-S2 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by going through technical specs. The picture underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-5 and K-S2.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The TG-5 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will show more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher TG-5 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography info
39
you can focus manually
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
77
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-5
Street photography with Pentax K-S2
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
weather proof
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (250 grams)
71
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography information
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography information
46
high max frames per second (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery power (340 shots)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
70
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (5.4 fps)
bad battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography advice
68
better than average battery power (340 per charge)
weather proof
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (250g)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
weather sealing
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Landscape photography camera
57
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
weather proof
better than average battery power (340 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging information
34
fairly wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competition (250g)
71
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus Tough TG-5Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Tough TG-5 Pentax K-S2
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2017-05-17 2015-02-10
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII PRIME MII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 25 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 20.0 frames per sec 5.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250g (0.55 lb) 678g (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 340 shots 410 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $449 $581