Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 vs Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80: A Deep Dive Into Two Compact Contenders

Choosing the right compact camera can feel like navigating a maze - especially when cameras target different usage philosophies yet end up compared side by side. Today, I’m unpacking two such models: the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 (the 6020), a rugged, waterproof compact from 2010, and the Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 (the ZS80), a 2018 small-sensor superzoom powerhouse. Each has distinct strengths and quirks, and I’ve spent hours shooting and testing both to help you pinpoint which better matches your photographic ambitions.

Throughout this article, I’ll highlight sensor tech, autofocus, ergonomics, and practical shooting scenarios - everything to inform your choice. Ready? Let’s begin by getting to know these cameras up close.

First Impressions: Design, Handling, and Portability

When you pick up a camera, size, feel, and button layout immediately shape your shooting comfort. Although both cameras aim at the compact market, their ergonomics speak to very different users.

The Olympus 6020 is truly compact and ultra-rugged, fitting comfortably in one hand at 95mm x 62mm x 22mm and weighing a mere 122 grams. It’s built like a tank - waterproof to 10m, shockproof, freezeproof - which makes it ideal for adventurous or casual shooters who want a point-and-shoot that can handle beach days, hikes, or poolside fun without worry.

On the other hand, the Panasonic ZS80 is larger and heavier at 112mm x 69mm x 42mm and 327 grams. Its bulkier chassis accommodates a versatile 30x zoom and a bigger 3-inch touchscreen LCD. While less weatherproof (in fact, no environmental sealing), the ZS80’s tilt screen and electronic viewfinder (EVF) make it a more serious compact in terms of control and composition options.

Takeaway? For hiking, travel-light, or extreme-weather scenarios, the Olympus feels like a loyal companion. For everyday walkaround, travel, or endowed telephoto reach, Panasonic gives you more ergonomic freedom and control.

Looking closer at controls, the ZS80 offers an intuitive, more professional layout, featuring a mode dial with manual exposure options - something the 6020 lacks entirely. The 6020 is strictly point-and-shoot, with no manual modes and minimal external controls.

If you value quick tactile control over settings, especially for creative or dynamic shooting, Panasonic wins here. But if simplicity and ruggedness are paramount, Olympus fits.

Sensor Overview and Image Quality Fundamentals

Let’s leave form factor and explore the sensor technology, which heavily influences image quality, dynamic range, and shooting versatility.

Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch sensor, standard for compact superzooms and rugged compacts, but there are notable differences:

• Olympus 6020: 13 megapixels, CCD sensor
• Panasonic ZS80: 20 megapixels, back-illuminated CMOS sensor (BSI-CMOS)

That sensor shift matters significantly. CCD sensors, like the Olympus’s, were common in earlier compacts, offering decent color accuracy but typically higher noise at elevated ISOs and more limited dynamic range. The Olympus max ISO stops at 1600, with no option for raw shooting, limiting post-processing flexibility.

The Panasonic’s BSI-CMOS sensor benefits from modern sensor architecture - improved light gathering, better low light performance, and finer detail rendering at 20 megapixels. It supports raw format, maximum ISO up to 3200 (expandable to 6400), and advanced exposure options. This opens doors for cleaner high ISO shots, better shadow recovery, and sharper images overall.

From my tests, the Panasonic produces cleaner, sharper files with better highlight retention and deeper shadows detail, especially in challenging lighting (indoor evenings or shaded landscapes). The Olympus can deliver decent JPEGs, but its dynamic range and noise control quickly show limitations past ISO 400.

If your priority includes image editing flexibility or low-light performance, the Panasonic’s sensor delivers more. For casual snapshots in good light, the Olympus holds its own reasonably well.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shot With Confidence

An effective viewfinder or LCD improves compositional accuracy, especially in tricky light.

The Olympus 6020 features a modest fixed 2.7 inch LCD with 230k dots, no touchscreen, and no viewfinder. Its display resolution and size feel dated today, and in bright sunlight the fixed screen can be challenging to view.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic ZS80 boasts a crisp 3-inch tilt touchscreen LCD at 1040k dots and a built-in 2330k dot EVF (0.53x magnification, 100% coverage). The EVF is particularly useful for steadying shots in bright daylight or holding the camera close to the eye for stability during telephoto use.

This difference is huge in practice - when shooting outdoors, the Panasonic’s EVF offers much more reliable framing and better menu navigation. Touchscreen focus and menu control accelerate usability, which I found invaluable when switching between autofocus modes or manual settings on the fly.

Bottom line: If you often shoot in bright sun or dislike composing exclusively by LCD, Panasonic’s implementation is far superior.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus (AF) technology defines how well a camera can track subjects, nail focus in various conditions, and deliver sharp images - especially vital for wildlife, sports, or street shooters.

• Olympus 6020 uses a contrast-detection AF with a single autofocus system (no manual focus), limited focus points, and no real-time tracking or face detection.
• Panasonic ZS80 features a contrast-detect AF coupled with face detection, touch-AF, multiple focus modes (single, continuous, tracking), and manual focus capability.

From experience, this means:

• The Olympus’s AF locks on reasonably in bright light, but hunting and slower response times make it unreliable for action or dynamic subjects.
• The Panasonic’s AF is faster and smarter, with touch focus that lets you select areas quickly, plus continuous AF for moving subjects. The lens stabilizer supports sharp capture even when shooting at the 720mm equivalent focal length.

For wildlife or sports, the Panasonic is the more dependable choice. Olympus falls short for fast-moving subjects or precision standby - but its rugged design suggests a more casual shooter.

Shooting Scenarios Explored: How These Cameras Perform in the Field

To get a holistic feel, I shot portraits, landscapes, macro, street, and video with both cameras. Here’s what stands out.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Detection

Portraits demand natural skin tones and good subject separation.

The Olympus’s lens maxes out at F3.9 wide and F5.9 telephoto with a 5x zoom - limiting background blur and low light capabilities. Its lack of face or eye detection puts the onus on careful focusing. Skin tones render reasonably, but limited exposure modes and no raw output restrict creative control.

The Panasonic offers wider aperture control (F3.3-6.4), face detection, and selective touch autofocus, which make nailing focus on eyes much easier. The higher resolution sensor adds detail to faces, and the lens’s longer zoom lets you compress backgrounds for better bokeh effects, despite the small sensor size.

Landscape Photography: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Durability

For landscapes, resolution and dynamic range are paramount.

The 20-megapixel ZS80 wins on resolution, producing sharper prints and better cropping flexibility. Its modern sensor delivers improved dynamic range, preserving highlights in skies and shadow details in foregrounds.

Olympus’s rugged build is tempting for outdoor landscapes, especially with scratch- and weather-resistant capabilities. However, limited iso range and sensor limitations affect low-light or sunrise shots. Also, the fixed LCD and absence of a viewfinder make composition trickier in bright conditions.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Performance

With maximum 5 fps burst, the Olympus struggles to keep up with moving subjects. Its single AF mode means you may miss split-second shots.

Panasonic doubles that at 10 fps and smart AF tracking enhances hit rates on wildlife or sports action. Additionally, the 720mm equivalent reach is a significant advantage for distant subjects.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

Olympus’s ultracompact, quiet shutter, and ruggedness make it a stealthy companion for street shooters wary of bulky gear. On the downside, the fixed screen and lack of EVF may slow quick, candid shots.

Panasonic, while larger and more conspicuous, offers a faster autofocus, better low-light capability, and more compositional tools via touchscreen and EVF. Some street photographers prioritize these over absolute size.

Macro and Close-up Work

Both cameras offer macro focus ranges, but Olympus shines with a close 1 cm macro mode, letting you get impressively near subjects. Panasonic’s 3 cm minimum is less dramatic, but with higher resolution and focus stacking features, it can produce impressive detail with less fuss.

Night and Astro Photography

Olympus’s ISO ceiling and sensor tech limit night photography capabilities.

Panasonic’s BSI-CMOS sensor, higher max ISO, electronic shutter speeds up to 1/16000s, and 4K photo modes give it greater versatility for long exposures or astro shots. The ZS80 can also do focus bracketing and stacking, beneficial for low-light or creative exposures.

Video Capabilities

Olympus maxes at 1280x720 at 30 fps; no microphone input, no 4K.

Panasonic steps up substantially with 4K UHD 30p, multiple frame rates at 1080p, 4K photo extraction, and touchscreen control. No mic input here either, but stabilization and zoom range are solid for casual to intermediate video use.

Travel and General Versatility

Olympus’s ruggedness points clearly to an outdoors traveler who wants a dependable companion under rough conditions.

Panasonic is the all-rounder, suitable for travel, walks, family snapshots, and casual wildlife or sports alike - provided you can carry an extra 200 grams.

Build Quality and Durability: How Tough Are These Cameras?

While the Panasonic ZS80 sports a polycarbonate shell with metal accents, it has no special sealing against dust, water, or shock. It’s designed for solid, everyday use but requires more care.

The Olympus 6020 is a clear champion here, meeting IP standards for waterproofing to 10 meters, freezeproofing to -10°C, and shockproofing to 2 meters. For adventure photographers, this ruggedness is a huge plus, enabling use in conditions hostile to most compacts.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras utilize fixed lenses, so lens swapping isn’t an option.

The Olympus 6020’s 28-140mm equivalent 5x zoom provides staple framing, but narrow compared to the ZS80’s massive 24-720mm 30x zoom. This range transforms shooting possibilities, from wide landscapes to super-telephoto wildlife from a distance.

Panasonic’s optical image stabilization combined with extended zoom makes it more suitable for a broad range of subjects in one carry - ideal for one-camera trips.

Battery Life and Storage

• Olympus uses the Li-50B battery; information on expected shots per charge is limited but traditionally rugged compacts focus less on shot count.
• Panasonic’s battery life rates around 380 shots per charge, respectable for the zoom and screen size.

Both cameras store photos on SD/SDHC cards. Panasonic also supports SDXC with UHS-I speeds, enabling faster write times for 4K video and burst mode.

Connectivity and Extras

The Panasonic ZS80 features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for quick sharing and remote control. This is a significant advantage in today’s connected world.

The Olympus 6020 offers no wireless connectivity - acceptable for a 2010 camera but limiting in 2024.

Price-to-Performance and Who Should Buy Which?

Olympus 6020 front Olympus 6020 screen back Panasonic ZS80 front Panasonic ZS80 screen back

Summarizing Overall Performance: How Do They Stack Up?

The Panasonic ZS80 outperforms in nearly every technical and user-oriented metric, from sensor quality to autofocus to video prowess. But the Olympus 6020 has a niche - ruggedness and extreme portability that the Panasonic can’t match.

I scored both cameras on various photographic disciplines, revealing the Panasonic's edge in portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, macro, night, video, and travel use. Olympus holds its ground in rugged outdoor scenarios and casual shooting.

Final Thoughts: Which Compact Should You Choose?

If your photography adventures take you into pools, rain, freezing temps, or rugged trails and you want a tough point-and-shoot without fuss, the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 is worth its limited cost and simplicity. It shines when you prioritize durability and ease above all else.

However, if you want a more versatile pocket powerhouse capable of sharper images, longer zoom reach, faster autofocus, 4K video, and network connectivity - ideal for travel, wildlife, street, or even casual sports - the Panasonic Lumix ZS80 is clearly the better all-around performer at a reasonable price premium.

Recommended For

• Olympus 6020: Beginners or active users needing rugged, waterproof, compact simplicity - think beach days, hikes, or family snapshots without worry.
• Panasonic ZS80: Enthusiasts and semi-pros wanting powerful zoom, advanced controls, raw shooting, and video flexibility in a compact package, who don’t require weather sealing.

Methodology Note: How I Tested These Cameras

Drawing from my extensive experience testing over 100 compact cameras, I assessed both models under controlled conditions - studio lighting, outdoor day and low light, action sequences, and macro setups - to isolate sensor, lens, and AF performance. I supplemented this with field tests replicating typical user scenarios, noting ergonomics, menu ease, and real-world usability.

This approach ensures you’re getting insights rooted in practical, hands-on evaluation rather than spec sheet comparison alone.

In the evolving compact camera market, the Olympus 6020 and Panasonic ZS80 represent two different eras and philosophies - one rugged simplicity, the other versatile zoom and advanced imaging. Your choice ultimately boils down to how and where you shoot.

I hope this comparison clarifies their unique strengths and helps guide a confident purchase. Happy shooting!