Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Comparison

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Olympus TG-2 iHS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Pentax MX-1

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Olympus TG-2 iHS, which was introduced in June 2013 is a Waterproof camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Pentax MX-1, which was introduced in July 2013 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. Both TG-2 iHS and MX-1 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Olympus TG-2 iHS Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-06-28

12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

5.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

Built-in GPS

230g. 111 x 67 x 29 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-07-01

12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 12800

28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3.00" Tilting Screen

1.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

391g. 122 x 61 x 51 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS over Pentax MX-1

GPS	BuiltIn vs None	track your location
Continuous Shooting	5.0fps vs 1.0fps	4 fps faster
Battery Life	350 shots vs 290 shots	60 more frames with a single charge
Weight	230 g vs 391 g	161 g lighter
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	shoot at tough conditions
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 28mm	3 mm wider coverage

CHECK TG-2 iHS PRICE

Reasons to choose Pentax MX-1 over Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS

LCD Screen	Tilting vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
RAW Support	Yes vs No	Better image quality
Max ISO	12.800 vs 6.400	100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution	920k dots vs 610k dots	50% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/8000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele	112mm vs 100mm	12 mm longer tele reach
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 2.00	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	2.50 vs 4.90	faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area	3.46µm² vs 2.38µm²	45% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

CHECK MX-1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1

Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution	610k dots vs 920k dots	High resolution screens

Common Weaknesses of Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1

External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option

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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax MX-1: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Olympus TG-2 iHS has external dimensions of 111 x 67 x 29 mm (4.37 x 2.64 x 1.14″) and weighs 230 g (0.51 lb / 8.11 oz) (including batteries). Pentax MX-1 has external dimensions of 122 x 61 x 51 mm (4.8 x 2.4 x 2.01″) and weighs 391 g (0.86 lb / 13.79 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1. Olympus TG-2 iHS is 11mm narrower and 22mm thinner than Pentax MX-1 but it is also 6mm taller.

Comparison image of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1.

Comparison image of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1.

Top View Comparison image of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus TG-2 iHS is significantly lighter (161g ) than the Pentax MX-1 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

TG-2 iHS

MX-1

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

TG-2 iHS

MX-1

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather sealed body, we believe that TG-2 iHS has a big advantage over MX-1 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

On the other hand, Pentax MX-1 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Olympus TG-2 iHS has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to MX-1.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax MX-1: Sensor Comparison

Both Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 have 12.0 MP resolution sensors but Olympus TG-2 iHS's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) and Pentax MX-1's sensor is 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ).

Since Pentax MX-1's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Olympus TG-2 iHS.

Below you can see the TG-2 iHS and MX-1 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 Cameras

As seen above, Pentax MX-1 has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Olympus TG-2 iHS. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax MX-1 Lens Specs Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS features a 25-100 mm F2.0-4.9 4x zoom lens whereas Pentax MX-1 features a 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 4× zoom lens.

Olympus TG-2 iHS has 3mm wider coverage than the Pentax MX-1. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Pentax MX-1 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Pentax MX-1 has 12mm longer reach than the Olympus TG-2 iHS. At f2.50, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

TG-2 iHS

MX-1

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

TG-2 iHS

MX-1

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

TG-2 iHS

MX-1

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

TG-2 iHS

MX-1

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Olympus TG-2 iHS for Portrait Photography

POOR

Pentax MX-1 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Olympus TG-2 iHS for Street Photography

GOOD

Pentax MX-1 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Olympus TG-2 iHS for Sports Photography

POOR

Pentax MX-1 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Unknown Focus Points
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Focus Points
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 290 shots
112 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Olympus TG-2 iHS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax MX-1 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
230g
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
391g
Body Thickness 51mm
Read the details

Olympus TG-2 iHS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Pentax MX-1 for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Built-in GPS
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Pentax MX-1: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Olympus TG-2 iHS and Pentax MX-1 scores compare:

Olympus TG-2 iHS

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #227 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #831 out of 1242 in all Cameras

Pentax MX-1

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #26 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #395 out of 1242 in all Cameras

Pentax MX-1 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Olympus TG-2 iHS in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Olympus TG-2 iHS. Otherwise, Pentax MX-1 is the better camera overall.

Pentax MX-1 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS	Pentax MX-1
Brand	Olympus	Pentax
Announced	2013-06-28	2013-07-01
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/1.7-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area	28.07mm²	41.52mm²
Megapixels	12 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	3968 x 2976	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	n/a	25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-100 mm (4x)	28-112 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F2.0-4.9	F1.8-2.5
Macro Focus Range	1cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Tilting
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	610k dots	920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	n/a	12.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	5.0 fps	1.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	230g	391g
Dimensions	111 x 67 x 29mm	122 x 61 x 51mm
Battery Life	350 shots	290 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	Built-in	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	49
DxO Color Depth	not tested	20.4
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	11.3
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	208
	Report a correction	Report a correction