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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 Key Specs

Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-870
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and FS15 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was introduced 6 years later than the FS15 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the TG-860 matches up vs the FS15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Panasonic FS15

 TG-860 FS15 
ReleasedFebruary 2015January 2009More recent by 74 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus TG-860

 FS15 TG-860 

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic FS15

 TG-860 FS15 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-860 has external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Panasonic FS15 has specifications of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-860 against the FS15.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and FS15 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and FS15.

Clearly, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus TG-860 to offer greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The newer TG-860 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-860
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS15
35
good resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
20
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography info
Panasonic FS15 Street photography info
69
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-860
Sports photography with Panasonic FS15
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
71
weather proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (21mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
47
decently wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
Vlogging with Panasonic FS15
33
decently wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Introduced 2015-02-06 2009-01-16
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) -
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Yes None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 gr (0.49 lbs) 136 gr (0.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $279 $180