Olympus E-620 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2: A Tale of Two Cameras in Different Worlds

Choosing the right camera can feel like stepping into a labyrinth of jargon, specs, and eye-popping marketing claims. Today, I’m diving into a direct comparison between two rather distinct entrants: the Olympus E-620, an entry-level DSLR that debuted in 2009 with Micro Four Thirds sensor heritage; and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 (a.k.a. Lumix DMC-FT2), a rugged, waterproof compact camera released in 2010. These two couldn’t be more different on paper - yet each has carved out a niche for itself among photography enthusiasts with very different priorities.

I’ve personally tested both extensively, balancing hands-on shooting impressions with a close look at their technical merits. This article explores how each fares across portrait, landscape, wildlife, and beyond - peppering in hardware and image quality insights alongside usability nuances. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which camera suits your style - whether that’s a flexible DSLR foundation or a hardy point-and-shoot companion.

Let’s kick things off with the most outwardly obvious factor: size and ergonomics.

Small but Mighty? Handling and Ergonomics First Impressions

When comparing cameras, first contact often frames the whole experience. The Olympus E-620 is a compact SLR, sporting a comfortable grip and physical controls that make manual exposure a breeze. In contrast, the Panasonic TS2 is a vanquished warrior, a tiny tough guy designed to brave rain, dust, and shocks without flinching - but obviously sacrificing some ergonomics along the way.

At 130x94x60 mm and 500 grams, the E-620 feels solid in hand, especially compared to the ultra-portable 99x63x24 mm and feather-light 188 grams of the TS2. The DSLR’s body design, with its dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority modes, plus a fully articulated 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD screen, offers a tactile experience that’s frankly absent in the compact Panasonic. The TS2, with a fixed screen of the same diagonal size but less advanced tech, steers towards simplicity and ruggedness - it’s built more for action and less for detailed creative control.

Ergonomically, I found the E-620’s grip a welcome refuge for longer shoots (think portraits, landscapes) - it just feels right balanced. The TS2’s no-frills design, meanwhile, is perfectly pocketable and gets the job done with minimal fuss facilitating quick snaps on adventures.

If you prize manual control and a DSLR’s heft, the E-620 scores well here. If compactness and durability are your jam - no contest, the TS2 reigns.

Peering Inside: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Now, under the hood, there’s a fundamental distinction: sensor size and type.

The Olympus E-620 boasts a Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm with 12 megapixels. This sensor is substantially larger than the TS2’s tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm) holding 14 megapixels. Here’s the kicker: despite slightly fewer pixels, the larger sensor area of the Olympus means each photodiode is bigger, gathering more light and generally producing superior image quality, especially in challenging light.

My tests confirm this advantage: the E-620 delivers richer color depth - DxO measures it at 21.3 bits with a dynamic range of 10.3 EV - providing better highlight and shadow retention, more natural skin tones, and less noise at higher ISO settings. The TS2, with its tiny sensor, leans heavily on noise reduction and processing, which works but loses fine detail and sharpness in dimmer conditions.

The E-620’s ISO range bottoms out at 100 and tops at 3200 natively, with decent low-light capability, while the TS2 can push to ISO 6400 but with significant noise and softness, reflecting the limits of CCD tech and sensor size.

For anyone obsessed with image quality, especially for big prints or pixel-peeping, the E-620 takes a comfortable lead. The TS2’s sensor is great for everyday snapshots and travel portfolios where convenience outweighs ultimate fidelity.

Do You See What I See? Viewfinders and LCD Screens in Real Use

Using the camera to compose shots is half the joy, and here, our contenders serve very different user experiences.

The E-620 sports an optical pentamirror viewfinder with approximately 95% frame coverage and 0.48x magnification. This traditional DSLFer’s window suits bright environments and lends an organic framing feel, though it can feel cramped compared to pro-grade viewfinders.

The TS2 - being compact and waterproof - forgoes a viewfinder entirely. This forces heavy dependence on the rear LCD, a non-touch, fixed 2.7-inch screen with 230k dots resolution. While adequate, it struggles under direct sunlight and lacks the articulation or customization DSLRs offer.

The Olympus’s fully articulated HyperCrystal LCD not only makes composing in tricky angles easier but shines for video recording or macro photography - a definite advantage for any photographer who likes to shoot vertically, from hip-level, or even selfie-style.

In practical shooting, the E-620’s viewfinder consistency and LCD flexibility greatly enhance user control and experience. The TS2’s fixed screen forces quick framing and less precise focus confirmation but remains serviceable in rough environments where you might not dare squint through glass.

Speed and Autofocus: Catching the Moment When It Counts

Speed is king for wildlife, sports, and street photography - essentials when the perfect instant flashes by in a heartbeat.

The Olympus E-620 packs a contrast and phase detection AF system with 7 focus points (three cross-type sensors at center), live view autofocus capabilities, and offers continuous AF during burst shooting. At 4 frames per second with buffer, it’s modest but serviceable for entry-level DSLR shooters.

The Panasonic TS2, in contrast, uses a contrast-detection system with 11 focus points and limited AF modes. Unfortunately, it lacks continuous AF in burst mode, maxes out only at 2 frames per second, and doesn't support shutter or aperture priority to tweak for faster exposures.

From field experience, the E-620 showed noticeably better tracking accuracy and reaction speed - critical in unpredictable wildlife or sports scenarios. The TS2 is better suited for casual snapshots where subject movement is limited or when you accept some missed focus for the sake of convenience and ruggedness.

Beyond the Specs: Image Stabilization and Flash Performance

Both cameras include image stabilization, but the approach differs. The E-620 offers sensor-shift stabilization, which corrects for camera shake regardless of lens - a huge advantage, especially with longer focal lengths.

The TS2 relies on optical image stabilization in its fixed zoom lens configuration. While effective for handheld shots, this system cannot adapt to different lenses and can’t match the precision and flexibility of in-body stabilization.

Built-in flash-wise, Olympus’s E-620 flashes with a maximum range near 12 meters, offering versatile modes, including red-eye reduction and rear curtain sync. Importantly, it supports external flashes for expanded creative lighting. The TS2’s internal flash is functional up to around 5 meters, with fewer modes and no external flash option.

Practically, the E-620’s flash and stabilization combo make it a more versatile performer in low light and indoor environments, desirable for event or portrait photographers.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Flexibility Matters

One of the DSLR’s strongest suits is the availability of interchangeable lenses. The Olympus E-620, with its Micro Four Thirds mount, grants access to an expansive ecosystem of over 45 native lenses - from wide-angle primes to telephoto zooms, specialized macros, and beyond.

This translates to magnification flexibility, creative control over depth of field, and options for professional-grade optics.

On the flip side, the Panasonic TS2 is a compact with a fixed 28-128 mm equivalent zoom (f/3.3 to 5.9 aperture). Its focal length multiplier is approximately 5.9x, which suits travel and moderate telephoto needs but isn’t designed for optical swaps or extreme focal lengths.

So, if your photography horizons include experimenting with lens characteristics - shallow bokeh for portraits or ultra-wide vistas for landscapes - the E-620 easily wins here. The TS2 is a no-fuss, all-in-one travel zoom that’s ready out of the box but not expandable.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

Battery longevity and storage options are real-world factors affecting a camera’s practical usability on trips or long sessions.

The E-620 relies on the BLS-1 battery pack with an impressive 500 shot per charge rating, bolstered by an efficient processor (TruePic III+). It stores images on CompactFlash (Type I or II) and xD Picture Cards, potentially limiting if you prefer widespread use of SD cards seen today.

The TS2’s battery specs are less clearly documented, but its diminutive size and fixed lens design typically equate to shorter life - yet it's more than adequate for casual adventures. It uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, a more flexible and accessible storage option.

For those who pack heavily, the E-620’s superior battery life and robust media support edge it slightly ahead, but the TS2’s convenience and common card compatibility make up some ground.

Toughness Test: Weather Resistance and Durability

This is where the Panasonic TS2 flexes muscles the Olympus can’t match.

The TS2 is environmentally sealed, waterproof up to 10 meters, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof - tested to survive harsh environments and careless handling that would make typical DSLRs cringe. It’s perfect for hikers, surfers, or any adventurous soul who refuses to baby their gear.

The E-620 has no weather sealing or ruggedization - you’ll need to tread carefully around rains or sandy beaches. Professional photographers often use protective gear or opt for more robust bodies in these cases.

To sum up, if you want a camera that’s ready to rain, snow, and tumble, the TS2 is a compact champ. For delicacy and control, the E-620 requires a gentler touch.

Putting it All Together: Image Samples and Performance Scores

After wrangling both cameras through various scenarios - portraits under natural light, landscape shots at golden hour, wildlife tracking in the park, sports events under artificial lights, macro flower studies, and rainy day travel excursions - here’s how the two compare in results.

Olympus E 620 screen back Panasonic TS2 front Panasonic TS2 screen back

Olympus E-620 outputs show crisper detail, smoother bokeh, and more nuanced colors especially in portraits and landscapes. The ability to swap lenses enables shooting macro and telephoto subjects crisply. Even under dimmer conditions, the camera maintains surprisingly low noise.

Panasonic TS2 images look good and vibrant for compact standards but visibly softer, particularly in shadows and at longer zoom lengths. The waterproof body delivers great peace of mind, especially for snapshots in questionable weather or active situations - but fine detail and dynamic range lag behind.

And to quantify this a bit more, aggregate scoring clearly shows the E-620 outperforming the TS2 in almost every image quality and control metric, while the TS2 claims top points in durability and portability.

A genre-by-genre breakdown highlights:

• Portraits: E-620 excels with clean skin tones and beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds.
• Landscapes: Superior dynamic range and resolution on the Olympus.
• Wildlife & Sports: Faster autofocus and frame rates on the Olympus for better subject capture.
• Street & Travel: TS2 wins on portability and ruggedness; E-620 rewards patience with image quality.
• Macro: Only the E-620 supports dedicated macro lenses with sharp focus.
• Night/Astro: E-620’s sensor and ISO performance give it a distinct edge.
• Video: Both offer basic HD options, none excels; E-620 supports more manual control but lacks modern codecs.
• Professional Use: E-620’s RAW support, lens flexibility, and manual modes make it viable as a budget pro option.

Who Should Pick Which? Recommendations for Your Next Camera

This comparison boils down to priorities. Here are my distilled recommendations:

Olympus E-620 Is Best For:

• Enthusiasts craving manual control and exposure customization.
• Portrait photographers wanting soft, natural-looking skin tones and pleasing bokeh.
• Landscape shooters requiring dynamic range and resolution for large prints.
• Wildlife and sports hobbyists who appreciate speedy autofocus and decent burst performance.
• Anyone interested in exploring creative lenses and styles.
• Users who value long battery life and traditional DSLR ergonomics.
• Budget-conscious buyers seeking a capable DSLR for professional workflows (RAW support, exposure bracketing).

Panasonic Lumix TS2 Shines When You:

• Need a durable, waterproof companion for outdoor adventures and extreme conditions.
• Want a simple, point-and-shoot that’s quick to operate without fussing over settings.
• Prioritize compactness and light weight to carry everywhere without strain.
• Mostly shoot in daylight or well-lit situations where ultimate detail isn’t critical.
• Are willing to trade some image quality for a camera that can withstand drops, dust, and water.
• Prefer a zoom range that covers casual travel needs without carrying multiple lenses.

Final Thoughts: Complementary Cameras for Different Journeys

As an avid tester and photographer, I always remind myself: “The best camera is the one in your hands.” The Olympus E-620 and Panasonic TS2 are excellent examples of how camera design tailors to fundamentally different shooting philosophies.

The E-620 is a gateway into creative, precise photography with quality output and flexible control - perfect if you want to craft images as much as capture them.

The TS2 is a rugged eagle-eye shot ready to dive into adventures no matter the weather, perfect for capsule packing and zero-fuss shooting.

If budget allows and you value the joy of lenses and image quality, the E-620 is the smarter buy. If your photography thrives on exploration, mountains, beaches, or pool parties, the TS2 is your trusty water-resistant sidekick.

Whichever you choose, both carry their charms and limitations with aplomb. Trust your shooting style and let that guide you beyond the specs sheets.

Happy clicking!

Disclosure: All assessments are based on my direct experience testing these cameras side by side under controlled and real-world conditions, combined with recognized benchmarks and user feedback.