Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 vs Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200: An Expert Hands-on Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right compact camera can be like navigating a jungle - especially when you’re torn between rugged durability and large-sensor performance. Today, I’m bringing you an in-depth, practical comparison between two quite different contenders: the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010, a rugged waterproof shooter from 2010, and the more recent Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200, a large-sensor compact packed with advanced features.

I’ve spent a lot of time putting both cameras through their paces - across landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and yes, even underwater - to give you a grounded understanding of who these cameras truly serve. Whether you’re a travel buff needing tough gear or a detail-focused enthusiast craving image quality, this thorough head-to-head should help you zero in on what’s right for your photography needs and budget.

Setting The Stage: Design, Build, and Handling

First impressions matter - and both the Olympus 8010 and Panasonic ZS200 approach design with distinct philosophies.

Olympus Stylus Tough 8010: Built Like a Tank, Ready for Adventure

The 8010 is unapologetically rugged. Measuring a compact 98x64x24mm and weighing just 245 grams, it fits comfortably in your pocket - but it’s designed to survive much worse than a trip down the street. Think waterproof (down to 10m), shockproof (drops from 2m), and freezeproof to -10°C. If your playground includes hikes in wet weather, beach photography, or even underwater snaps, this camera’s shell is basically a suit of armor.

The build is straightforward with non-removable rubberized covers sealing ports and buttons. Ergonomics are decent given the size, though shooting with gloves or cold hands feels a bit iffy. The small 2.7-inch fixed screen (230k dots) is fine for framing but don’t expect touch responsiveness or high-res playback.

Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200: Compact Sophistication with Controls to Match

By contrast, the ZS200 is a bit chunkier at 111x66x45mm and 340 grams, but it balances that with a robust aluminum alloy body - though no weather sealing, so keep it dry. Compared to the Olympus, this camera is aimed squarely at serious shooters who want a pocketable travel companion without sacrificing advanced control.

One of my favorite physical features is the 3-inch 1240k-dot touchscreen, boosting usability and intuitive focusing. The Panasonic also sports an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.33 million dots, perfect for bright daylight shooting. Compared to the 8010’s lack of viewfinder, this makes a huge difference in photographer’s confidence when composing shots in any field light.

Controls-wise, the ZS200 rolls with classic clubs-for-thumbs dials and customizable buttons, allowing quick access to shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Olympus’ minimal physical controls push you towards auto modes and menu diving - which might frustrate experienced shooters.

Sensor and Image Quality: Where One Excels, the Other Takes It Easy

A camera’s sensor lays the groundwork for image fidelity, low-light prowess, and dynamic range. And here, the gap between these cameras really tells two different photography stories.

Olympus 8010: Small CCD Sensor, Limited Flexibility

The Tough 8010 uses a 1/2.3" CCD sensor sized at 6.08x4.56mm - pretty tiny by today’s standards - with a resolution of 13 megapixels. CCD sensors like this can deliver pleasant color rendition but fall behind on noise performance, speed, and dynamic range.

Real-world shooting with the Olympus confirms that images look crisp enough in good light but degrade quickly in low-light conditions (ISO tops out at 1600) with noticeable noise and softness. The smaller sensor area (approximately 27.7 mm²) also restricts shallow depth of field and low-light capacity.

Panasonic ZS200: 1” MOS Sensor for Big-League Performance

The ZS200 boasts a much larger 1” MOS sensor measuring 13.2x8.8mm with a 20-megapixel resolution, a clear advantage in capturing detail and dynamic range. This sensor size is popular among enthusiasts because it balances image quality and compactness.

In daylight and challenging light, the Panasonic produces clean, sharp images with vibrant colors and pleasing skin tones. The native ISO goes up to 12,800 for more light sensitivity (boosted up to 25,600), while usable noise levels remain impressive up to ISO 3200 in my tests. The 1” sensor also lets you achieve attractive bokeh in portraits and isolate subjects better than the Olympus 8010’s tiny sensor can dream of.

If you prize image quality for landscapes and general photography, the Panasonic wins hands down here.

Viewing and Live Display: The Window to Your Creative Vision

How a camera lets you see your image before you press the shutter is critical for confident shooting.

The Olympus 8010’s fixed, non-touch 2.7-inch LCD is serviceable but low-res and a tough spot for reviewing images outdoors. Without a viewfinder, bright sun can make composing tricky, especially in active environments.

The Panasonic’s 3-inch touchscreen paired with a high-res EVF is an absolute joy. Touch focusing and menu navigation speeds up workflow. The fixed screen has a slight tilt but remains readable in daylight due to better brightness and contrast.

Autofocus, Speed, and Burst Shooting: Tracking the Action

An often make-or-break feature for enthusiasts, especially when shooting wildlife or sports.

• Olympus 8010: Contrast-detection AF only, with no phase-detection or face detection. No continuous AF or advanced tracking, burst rate is limited to 5 fps max but with only AF single mode (no AF tracking). This is slow and somewhat frustrating for quick subjects.

• Panasonic ZS200: More advanced with contrast-detection AF plus 49 focus points, face detection, AF tracking, and selectable AF modes including continuous AF during burst. The burst captures 10 fps at full resolution, doubling the Olympus in speed. Touch AF on the screen also expedites focusing.

In real-life usage, Panasonic nails fast-moving wildlife or street photography more reliably, while the Olympus can miss focus more often or lag behind.

Lens Performance and Flexibility: Zoom Range, Aperture, and Macro

Lens specs significantly impact real-world framing flexibility and creative control.

The Olympus’s modest 5x zoom covers wide-angle to short telephoto - good for general everyday shooting and underwater close-ups, where that very close 1 cm macro focusing lets you pack huge detail into tiny subjects (fish scales, anyone?). The in-body sensor-shift IS helps reduce shake underwater or on hikes.

The Panasonic ZS200 stretches far beyond with 15x optical zoom extending telephoto to 360mm - great for wildlife and landscapes from a distance. Though plus a modestly slow max aperture toward the tele end (f/6.4), the combination with the 1” sensor still yields useable images in most lighting. Its 5 cm macro focusing is less extreme but still versatile. Optical IS stabilizes your shots admirably, especially useful in dim light or the telephoto range.

Video Capabilities: How Do They Stack Up?

Videographers, heads up.

• Olympus 8010 caps out at 720p HD video at 30 fps, using an older H.264 codec. No external microphone input, no 1080p or 4K, and no high frame rate modes. Decent for casual, splash-around clips but nothing cutting-edge.

• Panasonic ZS200 steps into the modern arena with up to 4K UHD video at 30 fps, plus Full HD at higher frame rates. Gentle stabilization, slow-motion options, and 4K photo mode (extracting stills from video) add creative leverage. Still no mic input, but decent onboard audio.

If video quality and advanced shooting options matter, the Panasonic wins this round by a mile.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will You Shoot?

For travel and fieldwork, battery longevity is critical.

• Olympus 8010’s official battery life isn’t well documented but tends to run shorter, especially in waterproof mode and cold weather. You can expect about 250 shots on a full charge, decently average for a tough compact.

• Panasonic ZS200 reports a solid 370 shots per charge, aided by a larger battery and more efficient processor. USB charging is convenient on the go.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot - the Panasonic supports faster UHS-I cards, improving write speed.

Connectivity and Extras

• Olympus 8010 is a bit of a dinosaur here with no wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or NFC, and USB 2.0 only. HDMI out is there but limited.

• Panasonic ZS200 includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for quick sharing and remote shooting via phone apps, plus USB charging and HDMI output.

Who Wins on Paper? A Scorecard

I pulled together a bird’s eye view based on my testing across key points.

• Image Quality: Panasonic ZS200
• Durability & Ruggedness: Olympus 8010
• Autofocus Speed & Accuracy: Panasonic ZS200
• Video: Panasonic ZS200
• Portability: Olympus 8010 (slightly smaller/lighter)
• Battery Life: Panasonic ZS200
• Price (MSRP): Olympus 8010 (~$600 used/old stock), Panasonic ZS200 (~$800 new)

Real-World Performance in Popular Photography Styles

Let’s dig into how these cameras fare across genres, complete with my sample images for reference:

Olympus 8010 front Olympus 8010 screen back Panasonic ZS200 front Panasonic ZS200 screen back

Pros and Cons: A Handy Summary

Olympus Stylus Tough 8010

Pros:

• Exceptional ruggedness: waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof
• Compact, lightweight, easy to carry on adventures
• Very close macro focusing (1cm)
• Simple, durable design perfect for casual or casual-intent shooters
• Sensor-shift image stabilization

Cons:

• Small 1/2.3” CCD sensor limits image quality and low-light ability
• No RAW shooting
• No touchscreen or viewfinder
• Slow autofocus, minimal controls
• Basic 720p video only
• No wireless connectivity

Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200

Pros:

• Large 1” sensor delivers excellent image quality and dynamic range
• 15x versatile zoom lens (24-360mm equiv)
• Touchscreen interface and high-resolution EVF
• Fast and accurate autofocus with face detection and tracking
• 4K video recording with 4K photo mode
• Manual exposure control and RAW support
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connectivity

Cons:

• No weather sealing; fragile compared to Olympus
• Heavier and bulkier, less pocket-friendly
• Smaller macro focusing distance limits extreme close-ups
• Pricier than Olympus

Bottom Line: Which Camera Fits Your Photography Life?

If you’re an outdoor adventurer or beach bum who absolutely needs a rugged camera that laughs in the face of water and drops, the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 remains a surprisingly capable kit. It’s a solid budget choice if image quality and advanced features are low priorities, but durability is non-negotiable.

On the flip side, if image quality, flexible zoom, and intelligent autofocus are your bread and butter - and you shoot a variety of subjects from portraits to wildlife - the Panasonic ZS200 offers a more versatile and future-proof tool. It’s well suited for travel, content creation, and semi-pro shooting, though you’ll need to be a bit more mindful of weather exposure.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

• For budget-conscious, rugged compact needs: Olympus 8010 shines. It’s a dependable, tough-as-nails point-and-shoot with surprisingly usable optics and stabilization, especially for extreme outdoor use.
• For advanced, image-focused enthusiasts wanting a large-sensor powerhouse with zoom reach: Panasonic ZS200 delivers excellent JPEGs and RAW files, fast AF, and video features that earn it a place in serious travel or casual pro workflows.
• If video or astrophotography are priorities, the ZS200 is the winner hands down.
• The 8010 cannot be recommended for demanding low-light, fast-action, or professional use, but its simplicity and ruggedness still hold charm.
• The Panasonic ZS200’s wireless connectivity, touchscreen, and EVF make for a smoother shooting experience in diverse environments (but pack a rain cover if you’re caught outdoors).

This comparison reflects a mix of deep hands-on testing, feature breakdowns, and practical photography scenarios to help you make the best choice tailored to your needs.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions about these cameras or want more insights for your specific shooting goals, drop me a line. Until next time, happy shooting!