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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2014
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is fairly similar and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The TG-850 iHS was released 2 years later than the ZS8 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the TG-850 iHS matches up versus the ZS8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Panasonic ZS8

 TG-850 iHS ZS8 
LaunchedJanuary 2014July 2011Fresher by 31 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 ZS8 TG-850 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus TG-850 iHS and Panasonic ZS8

 TG-850 iHS ZS8 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-850 iHS enjoys physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-850 iHS vs the ZS8.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-850 iHS and ZS8 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-850 iHS and ZS8.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Olympus TG-850 iHS to offer extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-850 iHS provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
35
good resolution (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
30
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery life (330 CIPA)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
72
better than average battery life (330 CIPA)
weather proof
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (21mm)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than competition (210g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography info
50
relatively wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proof
better than average battery life (330 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
44
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
33
relatively wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
30
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-850 iHS and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-01-29 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4616 x 3464 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1/2 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Yes None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 grams (0.48 pounds) 210 grams (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 340 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $250 $275