Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS80

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Panasonic ZS80, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the ZS80 (20MP) is fairly well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-850 iHS was announced 5 years prior to the ZS80 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the TG-850 iHS scores against the ZS80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS and Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80. The whole galleries are available at Olympus TG-850 iHS Gallery and Panasonic ZS80 Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS enjoys outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS80 has dimensions of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") with a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Panasonic ZS80 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-850 iHS compared to the ZS80.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-850 iHS and ZS80 is 91 and 86 respectively.

Quite often, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at specifications. The image below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-850 iHS and ZS80.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS80 to resolve more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged TG-850 iHS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.