Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2: Which Camera Fits Your Photography Style?

Choosing a new camera can feel like a daunting journey through a jungle of specs, features, and acronyms. Especially if you’re balancing a modest budget with the desire to capture images that look great, whether for fun, social media, or more serious creative work. Today, I’m diving deep into two quite different cameras that might come up on your radar: the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II, a versatile entry-level mirrorless camera from 2015, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2, a rugged compact waterproof point-and-shoot from 2010.

Both have their charm, but they’re designed with mostly separate user groups in mind. Having logged many hours testing cameras across genres and conditions, I’ll give you a detailed, practical comparison that cuts through the marketing fluff. By the end, you’ll know which model suits your photography needs, style, and budget - and more importantly, whether either is worth your hard-earned cash today.

Getting Hands-On: Body and Design Differences

First impressions count, and when it comes to handling a camera in the field, size, weight, and ergonomics matter as much as sensor specs.

Olympus E-M10 II is a compact, SLR-style mirrorless body weighing 390g, measuring 120x83x47mm. Olympus’s classic styling gives you a decent grip for one-handed shooting and a DSLR-like button layout aimed at photographers who want direct access to settings and creative modes without diving into menus.

By contrast, the Panasonic TS2 is a smaller, super-tough compact weighing just 188g and sized at 99x63x24mm - more pocketable and designed to be carried on adventures without worry (or extra padding). You’ll find this camera more discreet in street settings but lacking the clubs-for-thumbs grip many enjoy on mirrorless or DSLR bodies.

If you like control dials, customizable buttons, and an EVF for precise composition, Olympus wins. If all you want is a “grab-and-go” shooter built like a tank, Panasonic’s TS2 shines, especially with environmental sealing - more on that shortly.

Looking at the control layout from the top view:

Olympus’s top plates have dedicated exposure compensation, mode dial, shutter release with a front dial, and a flash pop-up button. Panasonic TS2 is minimalist with fewer physical controls, favoring simplicity over fine-tuning capabilities.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: A Night-and-Day Difference

No contest here - sensor tech has an outsized impact on the quality of your images, especially if you want sharp, low-noise shots or intend to print large.

The E-M10 II sports a 16-megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor, measuring 17.3x13mm, giving it a sensor area of about 225mm². This size enables better light-gathering, dynamic range, and color depth compared to compact cameras. Olympus uses the TruePic VII image processor paired with an anti-alias filter that balances sharpness and moiré suppression.

Its maximum native ISO tops out at 25600, with practical quality seen up to ISO 1600–3200 depending on your noise tolerance. This makes it versatile for varied lighting, including dim events and indoor portraits.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic TS2 uses a small 1/2.3" CCD sensor, roughly 6x4.5mm, with a 14MP resolution. Smaller sensor means less light collection per pixel; the result is more noise and less dynamic range, especially in low light. Its max ISO is 6400 but expect soft images with excessive grain beyond ISO 400-800.

Because the TS2 also has a fixed lens, optical zoom is limited (28-128mm equivalent), and the aperture tapers from f/3.3 to f/5.9, supporting less bokeh and low-light performance than the interchangeable lenses on Olympus.

If image quality is your priority - especially for portraits, landscapes, or any scenario demanding crisp details and rich colors - the Olympus sensor and processor combo is the clear winner.

Display and Viewfinder Usability: Framing Your Vision

Using the camera’s screen or viewfinder to compose shots is where practical experience with usability kicks in.

The Olympus E-M10 II features a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 1,040,000 dots. This offers excellent clarity, and the tiltable mechanism helps you shoot from high or low angles comfortably. The touchscreen interface allows quick focusing point selection and menu navigation.

Critically, it sports a 2,360k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) covering 100% of the frame at 0.62x magnification, enabling eye-level shooting with stable, fact-in-hand framing - something photographers who shoot outdoors or in bright light will appreciate.

The Panasonic TS2 sticks to a fixed 2.7-inch LCD screen with 230k dots, visibly lower resolution and no tilting or touch input. It lacks any EVF, so you are restricted to screen viewing, which can be challenging under harsh sunlight.

If you shoot outdoors a lot or want the flexibility of varied compositions, Olympus’s screen and EVF combo takes the cake. For casual or underwater shots where you rely on the camera’s ruggedness over refined framing, the TS2 screen suffices.

Autofocus and Burst Rates: Catching ‘The’ Moment

In fast-paced photography - especially wildlife, sports, or street - you don’t want to miss the action due to slow focusing or sluggish shutter response.

The Olympus E-M10 II houses a contrast-detection autofocus system with 81 focus points, face detection, eye detection, continuous AF, and tracking modes. Its focusing speed is decent for an entry-level mirrorless from 2015, reliably locking on faces in good light and maintaining focus in mid-action.

Further, it offers a respectable 8 frames per second (fps) burst rate, backed by a good buffer, allowing you to capture several shots in rapid succession before slowing down.

By contrast, the Panasonic TS2 employs contrast-detect AF with just 11 points, no face or eye detection, and family-grade focusing speed that’s adequate for casual snaps but frustrating for fast action.

Burst mode clocks in at a poky 2 fps, more suitable for snapshot sequences than serious continuous shooting.

For sports or wildlife photography enthusiasts seeking to track moving subjects or capture fleeting gestures, Olympus stands out definitively here.

Lens Ecosystem and Zoom Capability: Flexibility Versus Convenience

Lens compatibility hugely impacts the creative potential of your camera system.

The Olympus E-M10 II leverages the Micro Four Thirds system, which boasts an extensive collection of over 100 lenses from Olympus and Panasonic, plus third-party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron. This includes everything from ultra-sharp primes for portraits and macro work to telephoto zooms for wildlife, along with affordable kit lenses to get started.

The Panasonic TS2, being a tough compact, has a fixed zoom lens equivalent to 28-128mm. For underwater or adventure shooters, this zoom is versatile enough to capture landscapes or modest close-ups but lacks the sharpness and aperture speed of interchangeable lenses.

If you want to get serious about portrait bokeh, astrophotography, or macro, Olympus’s lens freedom gives you tools to experiment and grow your skills.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ruggedness Tested

How well the camera holds up under environmental stress is a major factor for travel and adventure photographers.

Panasonic TS2 is a standout here: it’s waterproof down to 10 meters, shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof. This camera is built to go places Olympus wouldn’t dare without a dedicated waterproof housing. The robust compact form means you can drop it in a backpack, spill water on it, or take it snorkeling without fear.

Olympus E-M10 II offers no environmental sealing - it’s sensitive to moisture and dust. While its weather resistance is better than some entry-level cameras, it’s not made as a rugged, all-terrain device. Use care in rain or dusty conditions, or invest in weather-sealed lenses and protective covers.

If your photography involves hiking, beach trips, waterfalls, or kids and pets (aka potential camera hazards), Panasonic TS2’s built-in toughness is a feature worth paying for.

Battery Life and Storage Options: How Long Will It Last?

In the field, battery endurance can make or break your day.

Olympus E-M10 II uses the BLS-50 battery pack rated for around 320 shots per charge (CIPA standard). This is average for mirrorless but may require you to carry spares on longer excursions to avoid interruption. Storage is via a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

The Panasonic TS2’s battery specs aren’t well documented, but compact point-and-shoots typically offer less longevity than mirrorless cameras. The convenience of an internal plus external SD card slot supports a bit of storage flexibility, but you’ll want to ensure easy access to charging given limited endurance.

If you’re planning extended shoots or travel, Olympus’s better battery life combined with a higher-capacity card slot will suit you slightly better.

Video Functionality: Do They Cut It for Moving Images?

In the age of multimedia, video shooting capabilities weigh heavily.

E-M10 II supports Full HD 1080p video up to 60 fps (H.264), with a headphone/microphone port missing (bummer), but decent stabilization courtesy of built-in 5-axis sensor-shift IS, reducing handheld shake. This makes smooth, sharp handheld clips more achievable.

Panasonic TS2 records up to 720p HD at 30 fps and relies on optical image stabilization in its lens. No external mic inputs or advanced controls limit its appeal for video creators demanding quality audio or 4K capture.

For casual family videos or travel logs, Panasonic might suffice, but Olympus offers markedly better video quality and stabilization for hybrid shooters.

Real World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s translate specs into everyday shooting scenarios most enthusiasts care about, with practical takeaways.

Portraits: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Olympus’s larger sensor captures pleasing, natural skin tones and has eye-detection AF to keep faces tack sharp. Paired with fast primes like the Olympus 45mm f/1.8, you get beautiful backgrounds lightly blurred, ideal for flattering portraits.

Panasonic TS2’s smaller sensor and fixed zoom limit background blur and color fidelity. The lack of face/eye detection means more missed focus shots, frustrating keen portrait shooters.

Winner: Olympus

Landscapes: Dynamic Range, Resolution & Weather Sealing

Olympus’s 16MP sensor provides broad dynamic range, helping preserve shadow and highlight detail. Image detail holds up well for large prints. Lack of weather sealing means you’ll want lens hoods or poly bags in the outdoors.

Panasonic offers weatherproofing and ruggedness, crucial for wet or dusty locations, but image quality and resolution fall short when pixel-peeping.

Winner: Depends on priorities - image quality or durability

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed & Burst Rate

With an 8 fps burst and responsive multi-point AF tracking, Olympus can capture birds in flight or a soccer goal celebration. Its telephoto lens support extends reach.

Panasonic is simply too slow and under-equipped for demanding action shots.

Winner: Olympus hands down

Street Photography: Discreteness and Portability

TS2’s small size and quiet operation enable candid street photography without drawing crowds’ attention. Olympus is bulkier but offers EVF for eye-level shooting, loved by many street photographers.

Winner: Panasonic for casual spontaneity; Olympus for control

Macro: Magnification and Precision

The Olympus system supports macro primes with high magnification and focus bracketing. Its sensor-based 5-axis IS aids sharp handheld macros.

TS2 features a 5cm macro mode but no focus bracketing or stabilization support for macros.

Winner: Olympus for creative macro work

Night/Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Control

Olympus maxes out at ISO 25600 with usable quality around 1600+, plus manual exposure modes and remote shutter timers for long exposures.

Panasonic’s CCD sensor and limited ISO create noisy night shots. Lack of manual exposure modes means little control after dark.

Winner: Olympus for night shooters

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

TS2 wins ruggedness and portability; no worries dropping it. Olympus offers more image quality and lens flexibility but demands more careful packing.

Olympus has a slight battery life edge but isn’t as carefree in the rain or snow.

Professional Work: Reliability and Workflow Integration

Olympus images shoot in RAW and support manual controls, making them suitable for workflow integration into professional pipelines. Wireless connectivity allows remote shooting and quick transfers.

TS2 lacks RAW support and wireless features - a no-go for professional clients.

Comparing Sample Images: Seeing Is Believing

Here’s a gallery side-by-side with test images from both cameras:

Olympus E M10 II front Olympus E M10 II screen back Panasonic TS2 front Panasonic TS2 screen back

You can immediately see Olympus’s richer tonal gradations, better sharpness, and dynamic range. Panasonic images look softer with less punch, especially in shadows and highlights.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Scores

These aggregate test ratings (from DxO and real-world tests) give quick reference on how each camera stacks up:

Olympus leads comfortably in most disciplines, especially image quality and autofocus. Panasonic scores highest on ruggedness and portability but trails elsewhere.

Price-to-Performance Analysis: What’s Your Best Bang for Buck?

With current prices around $500 for Olympus E-M10 II and $350 for Panasonic TS2 (used or new old stock), you get significantly different value propositions.

Paying an extra $150 nets you vastly better image quality, creative control, and lens options with Olympus - ideal for learners who want a camera to grow with or semi-pro shooters on a budget.

If strict durability, waterproofing, and pocketability drive your photography, and you’re content with casual snapshots, Panasonic TS2 presents a solid cheap waterproof rugged option.

Summing It All Up: Which Camera Do I Recommend?

Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II if:

• You want to learn photography beyond “point and shoot”
• Image quality and creative versatility (manual modes, raw files) are paramount
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, macro, or low-light often
• You want access to a vast Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem
• Video is part of your creative mix
• You can handle a moderately sized camera and care about viewfinder use

Prefer the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 if:

• You need a rugged, waterproof camera for diving, hiking, or extreme conditions
• Portability and robustness beat image quality concerns
• You want simple operation with no fuss
• Budget and compactness are high priorities
• You mainly shoot daytime or tourist snapshots in harsh outdoor environments

Final Words From My Experience

Having tested hundreds of cameras, I often advise folks to think beyond specs and imagine your daily shooting life. The Olympus E-M10 II remains a compelling budget mirrorless that punches well above its weight for creative photographers, while the Panasonic TS2, though outdated now, still holds value as a specialized rugged compact.

If your budget allows and serious photography calls, Olympus is my pick hands down. But for those who want their camera to survive rivers, beaches, and backpack mishaps without a sweat - and don’t mind trading image finesse for durability - the Panasonic TS2 delivers durable peace of mind.

I hope this comparison helps you narrow the field and guides you to a camera that makes you want to shoot more. After all, the best camera for you is the one that fits your style, purpose, and pocket best!

Happy shooting!