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Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
54
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-6 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus TG-6
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 253g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Launched May 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-5
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the TG-6 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The TG-6 was released 8 years after the RS1500 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the TG-6 grades versus the RS1500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-6 over the Pentax RS1500

 TG-6 RS1500 
IntroducedMay 2019March 2011More modern by 100 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus TG-6

 RS1500 TG-6 

Common features in the Olympus TG-6 and Pentax RS1500

 TG-6 RS1500 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus TG-6 provides outer measurements of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 253 grams (0.56 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the TG-6 and the RS1500.

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-6 and RS1500 is 90 and 93 respectively.

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The picture underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-6 and RS1500.

To sum up, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Pentax RS1500 to give greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-6 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
40
you can focus manually
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
35
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Street photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Street photography advice
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (253g)
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Sports photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography factors
47
max fps high (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery life (340 shots)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
37
decent megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-6 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
68
good battery life (340 shots)
weather sealing
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than others in class (253 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
environment sealing
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-6 Landscape photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography advice
57
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good battery life (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
40
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14MP)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-6
Vlogging with Pentax RS1500
34
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than others in class (253 grams)
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus TG-6 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-6 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus Tough TG-6Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Tough TG-6 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2019-05-22 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Slow sync. (1st curtain), Red-eye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Fill- in, Manual, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PC 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 253g (0.56 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI92
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $449 $150