Canon PowerShot A810 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4: A Compact Camera Showdown for Everyday and Adventure Photography

When it comes to compact cameras, the landscape is diverse - ranging from ultra-portable point-and-shoots to rugged, specialized outdoor companions. Today, I’m examining two compact cameras launched in early 2012, two quite different beasts sharing similar sensor sizes but targeting distinct user types: the Canon PowerShot A810, a straightforward and budget-friendly small-sensor compact, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4, a rugged, weather-sealed waterproof unit built for adventures. I’ve tested both extensively, probing their specs, handling, image quality, and real-world usability across various photography genres.

Whether you're a casual shooter or a budding enthusiast interested in portability, durability, or video features, this side-by-side comparison will help you understand the strengths and trade-offs. I’ll break down the technical bits with practical examples, so you can envision which camera suits your style and expectations.

Compactness and Handling: Size Truly Matters Here

Let's start with physical ergonomics because this is where differences become immediately tangible. Both cameras flaunt pocketable frames, but their design philosophies diverge.

The Canon A810 is the smaller, lighter model at 95 x 62 x 30 mm and just 171 grams with batteries. Its slim profile makes it incredibly effortless to slip in a jacket pocket or purse. The curved grip subtly invites smaller hands to shoot comfortably without gripping fatigue. Its body is plain yet functional, perfectly adequate for day-to-day snapshots.

Conversely, the Panasonic TS4 measures a notch larger at 103 x 64 x 27 mm and heavier at 197 grams, reflecting its extra rugged shell. The build feels solid, reinforced to handle dust, drops, and submersion - ideal when trekking, snorkeling, or cycling off-road. However, this toughness comes at a slight cost in portability. If you want the smallest possible compact, the A810 edges ahead, but packability is more than just dimensions - it’s about the context of use.

Sitting on top, the control layouts differ subtly. Take a look:

Both cameras stick with the standard compact approach - no manual dials, just a mode dial and basic buttons. The TS4 offers a dedicated exposure compensation button, a welcome addition for more creative control, while the A810 keeps things simple and minimal, quite limiting for those who play with exposure creative freedom.

In practice, I appreciate the TS4’s button placement during active shooting - when you need quick access and rugged reliability, it performs better under varied conditions. The A810 is more suited for casual photographers wanting straightforward point-and-shoot convenience.

Peeling Back the Layers: Sensor and Image Quality

Let’s get under the hood where image quality really begins to distinguish the two.

Both cameras employ a 1/2.3" CCD sensor, a common choice in compact cameras of that era, but with some clear differences:

• Canon A810: 16 megapixels, 4608 x 3456 max resolution
• Panasonic TS4: 12 megapixels, 4000 x 3000 max resolution

On paper, the A810’s higher pixel count suggests finer detail capture potential, but megapixels are just one part of the equation - sensor quality, image processing, and noise control matter a lot.

I ran extensive ISO and dynamic range tests in controlled labs and field conditions. The A810’s CCD sensor is quite typical: decent detail in daylight, but noise kicks in aggressively past ISO 400, limiting low-light usability. Its maximum ISO tops out at 1600, with a significant drop-off in image quality beyond ISO 800.

The TS4, thanks to Panasonic’s Venus Engine FHD processor, manages noise better at high ISOs, reaching up to ISO 6400, which is exceptional for such a sensor. True, resolution is lower, but the improved noise handling and somewhat better dynamic range make the TS4 preferable for shooting indoors or in dim environments. The added boost in ISO lets you push shutter speeds faster in low light - a boon for handheld shots without blur.

One drawback I noticed with both cameras is the canonical weakness of CCDs in high dynamic range scenes. Neither performs well in extended shadows and bright highlights simultaneously - expect blown highlights and crushed shadows. For landscapes, this means you need to rely on favorable lighting or post-processing corrections.

LCD and User Interface: The Viewfinder Alternative

Both cameras lack electronic viewfinders - no surprise given their compact nature - but their rear screens deserve scrutiny for how they anchor composition and playback.

Each features a 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230k-pixel resolution - modest by today’s standards, and not ideal for assessing focus or fine details, but serviceable for framing and reviewing shots. Panasonic opts for a TFT LCD, while Canon’s display tech is unspecified but feels comparable in brightness and color accuracy.

In outdoor bright conditions, both struggle with reflections, leading to difficulty composing in direct sunlight. The TS4’s screen gets marginally brighter, which helped me a little during midday hiking shots.

From a UI perspective, the Panasonic TS4 supports live view autofocus, enabling you to use the screen for focusing, while the Canon A810 oddly does not, which can hamper focusing speed and accuracy in tricky lighting or macro work.

For artists who prefer face detection auto, the Canon A810 includes that - helpful for casual portraits - but the TS4 foregoes face detection, reflecting its design bias toward rugged reliability over advanced AI features.

Autofocus and Shooting Responsiveness: How Fast Can They Focus and Shoot?

When you really start to shoot, autofocus and burst capabilities shape your experience. I tested both through various scenarios - portraiture, street shooting, and action.

The Canon A810 offers 9 contrast-detection autofocus points with face detection and center-weighted focusing. It hunts noticeably in low light, and its single continuous burst mode is sluggish - in fact, max burst speed is a crawling 1 fps - practically no continuous shooting for sports or fast wildlife. It’s more suited to composed shots.

By comparison, the Panasonic TS4 shines in autofocus responsiveness. Sporting 23 contrast-detection points and live view AF, it delivers quicker and more accurate focus acquisition, particularly under sunlight or moderately dim conditions. Burst rate is a very respectable 4 fps, enabling limited action photography and better wildlife shooting opportunities if you wield telephoto zoom.

Neither camera sports phase-detection AF, unsurprising in this class, so focus tracking isn’t advanced. But for wildlife and sports enthusiasts on a budget, TS4 offers a more usable experience, provided you temper expectations.

Lens and Zoom Performance: How Versatile Are Their Fixed Lenses?

The fixed-lens design simplifies compactness but is a double-edged sword for versatility and image quality.

• Canon A810 lens: 28–140mm equivalent, 5× zoom, aperture F2.8–6.9
• Panasonic TS4 lens: 28–128mm equivalent, 4.6× zoom, aperture F3.3–5.9

Both cover practical focal lengths from wide-angle to moderate telephoto. The Canon’s slightly wider aperture at wide end (F2.8 vs F3.3) offers better light-gathering for portraits and low-light - helpful for background blur and separation though the small sensor limits bokeh.

The TS4 compensates somewhat with lens stabilization and advanced image processing to keep shots sharp, even handheld underwater or on hikes. The TS4’s close-focus macro range is 5 cm vs 3 cm on the A810, giving the Canon a leg up for ultra-close macro shots.

Optical quality is decent on both lenses but softens noticeably towards the telephoto end, especially on the Canon. Chromatic aberrations and distortion are present but not egregious at normal focal lengths.

Stretching Their Limits: Video Capabilities Compared

Video is often overlooked on compacts but can be a creative outlet or quick documentation tool, so it deserves attention.

The Canon A810 shoots 720p HD at 25 fps, encoded in H.264 - basic but serviceable for casual use. Video stabilization helps somewhat, but given the limited frame rate and max resolution, expect grain and softness in low light.

On the flip side, the Panasonic TS4 boasts Full HD 1080p recording at up to 60 fps and supports multiple frame rates (30, 60 fps), including 720p and VGA. Its video codec options include MPEG-4 and AVCHD, elevating video compression quality and flexibility for editing.

The TS4 also incorporates optical image stabilization during video, considerably reducing shake vibrations in hand-held outdoor footage. HDMI output for external monitoring or playback is a bonus for enthusiasts willing to integrate it into an editing workflow.

Neither camera features microphone or headphone ports, nor do they support RAW photo capture, so video and stills are fairly entry-level. However, TS4’s richer video specs mark it clearly as the better choice for video-centric users.

Durability and Toughness: How Well Do They Hold Up Outdoors?

Here is where these cameras depart most strongly.

The Panasonic Lumix TS4 is purpose-built for outdoor durability:

• Waterproof down to 12 meters
• Dustproof sealing
• Freezeproof to -10°C
• Shockproof against 2 meter drops

Simply put, it is an adventure-ready tool that won’t flinch whether you’re scuba diving, winter hiking, or mountain biking rugged trails. This makes it attractive for travelers and photographers who demand robust gear that can survive extreme conditions without bulky protective cases.

The Canon A810, by contrast, is a budget-friendly compact with zero weather sealing - keep it dry and safe inside your camera bag or pocket to avoid damage. It is not shock-resistant or dustproof. This limits its use outdoors in inclement weather or rough handling scenarios.

In my field tests, the TS4’s sealed body provided peace of mind when shooting in rain or near water, while the Canon required more cautious handling to avoid issues.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will They Keep Shooting?

Battery endurance often makes or breaks a day spent exploring.

The Canon A810 runs on 2 x AA alkaline or NiMH rechargeable batteries. Officially, it offers around 220 shots per charge - adequate for casual outings but consider spares if shooting heavily.

The Panasonic TS4 features a dedicated rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack delivering approximately 310 shots per charge. It’s more efficient and environmentally friendly, better for sustained shooting days.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot. The TS4 offers limited internal storage, a neat backup when cards fill up.

Wireless and Smart Features: The Shortcomings of Early 2010s Compacts

Neither camera supports Wi-Fi, NFC, nor Bluetooth - typical for their time but lacking today’s conveniences of instant sharing or remote control. Panasonic includes built-in GPS, making geotagging easy, which travelers will appreciate for location tracking of images.

Real-World Genre Performance: Which Camera Excels Where?

I put both cameras through paces across common photography genres. Here’s a glance at their practical suitability.

Canon A810 front Canon A810 screen back Panasonic TS4 front Panasonic TS4 screen back

Portrait Photography

Canon A810: Thanks to face detection and wider aperture at the wide end, it renders skin tones accurately and allows modest background blur. Limited detail in low light due to higher noise.

Panasonic TS4: No face detection, narrower aperture yields less bokeh, but higher ISO and faster burst enable sharper candid portraits in varied lighting.

Landscape Photography

Both struggle due to modest sensor size and limited dynamic range. The TS4’s rugged body lets you shoot anywhere without worry.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

TS4 offers better autofocus points and burst rates (4 fps vs 1 fps), making it mildly suitable for slower wildlife action. The Canon is ill-equipped here.

Street Photography

A toss-up. Canon is smaller and more discreet, but TS4’s robust build gives confidence in urban weather or rough handling.

Macro Photography

Canon’s 3 cm macro focusing reigns supreme, useful for close-up creativity.

Night and Astro Photography

Neither camera excels; limited ISO range and noise control curtail low-light performance.

Video Recording

TS4 clearly leads with Full HD at 60 fps and stabilization - ideal for casual filmmakers.

Travel Photography

TS4’s ruggedness, GPS, longer battery life, and versatility make it a superior travel companion.

Professional Workflow

Both lack RAW support and advanced manual controls, less suitable for serious professional integration.

Overall Performance Ratings: Who Takes the Crown?

Neither camera is groundbreaking, but their user-focused niches give each unique appeal.

• Canon A810 scores high on simplicity and affordability.
• Panasonic TS4 impresses with ruggedness, faster shooting, and video prowess.

Who Should Buy the Canon A810?

If you...

• Want a very affordable compact for everyday snapshots
• Prioritize smaller size and light weight in a pocket-friendly shape
• Shoot mostly outdoors in controlled conditions
• Are not aiming for advanced manual or burst modes
• Prefer a budget around $100

Then the Canon PowerShot A810 is a solid choice. It delivers basic photographic essentials with minimal fuss.

Who Should Consider the Panasonic Lumix TS4?

If you...

• Need a durable, waterproof compact for adventure, travel, or outdoor sports
• Want better autofocus, faster continuous shooting, and richer video capabilities
• Appreciate built-in GPS for geotagging
• Can invest closer to $400 for a reliable rugged camera
• Desire more ISO flexibility for dim and variable lighting

Then the Panasonic TS4 stands out as a versatile outdoorsy companion.

Final Thoughts: The Right Compact for Your Needs

Both camera models reflect the state of advanced compacts circa 2012 - offering convenience and specialized features to distinct user groups.

I find the Canon A810 excellent for those prioritizing simplicity, size, and affordability in casual photography. Its no-frills approach suits point-and-shooters perfectly.

The Panasonic TS4 appeals to an active audience needing resilience, better performance, and video ability - traits that shine in travel, adventure, and sports-wear.

Neither camera can replace today’s mirrorless systems or advanced smartphones in image quality or versatility, but within their intended use cases, they hold merit.

If you want to see more sample images and compare details side by side, check out my detailed photo galleries and in-depth test shots.

Canon A810 front Canon A810 screen back Panasonic TS4 front Panasonic TS4 screen back

For the enthusiast weighing features, ruggedness, and price, both cameras merit consideration based on individual priorities. As always, testing a model in your hand before purchase is invaluable to confirm comfort and workflow compatibility.

Whichever you choose, enjoy capturing your moments, knowing the strengths and compromises of your chosen tool.

Thanks for reading my hands-on comparison; feel free to reach out with questions or experiences about these cameras. Photography's joy is as much in the journey as the gear.