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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 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
  • Released February 2015
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-870
Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Replacement is Panasonic GX7
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic GX1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the GX1 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the TG-860 (1/2.3") and GX1 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-860 was revealed 3 years after the GX1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the TG-860 matches up against the GX1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Panasonic GX1

 TG-860 GX1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015February 2012More modern by 37 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Olympus TG-860

 GX1 TG-860 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic GX1

 TG-860 GX1 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-860 enjoys outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Panasonic GX1 has specifications of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic GX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the TG-860 compared to the GX1.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and GX1 is 91 and 87 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor sizes just by going through specs. The image underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-860 and GX1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The TG-860 has the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh more challenging. The fresher TG-860 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography features
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GX1 as a Street photography camera
69
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch to focus
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography info
Panasonic GX1 Sports photography info
49
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
47
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GX1 Travel photography advice
71
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (21mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
includes touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (300 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX1 as a Landscape photography camera
48
rather wide (21mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
62
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
bad battery (300 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging features
Panasonic GX1 Vlogging features
33
rather wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
32
touchscreen
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no microphone socket
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic GX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic GX1
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Class Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2012-02-14
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 7.60 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 224 grams (0.49 lb) 318 grams (0.70 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 55
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 703
Other
Battery life 300 photos 300 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $279 $228