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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Announced February 2015
  • Successor is Olympus TG-870
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was brought out 3 years after the S2 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the TG-860 scores vs the S2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Panasonic S2

 TG-860 S2 
IntroducedFebruary 2015January 2012More modern by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus TG-860

 S2 TG-860 

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic S2

 TG-860 S2 
Focus manually No manual focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-860 offers exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-860 and the S2.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and S2 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The image here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-860 and S2.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus TG-860 to give you greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The younger TG-860 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography highlights
35
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography information
Panasonic S2 Street photography information
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (112 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography features
Panasonic S2 Sports photography features
48
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
good battery pack (280 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography factors
Panasonic S2 Travel photography factors
71
environment proofing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (21mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
70
good battery pack (280 per charge)
lighter than average (112 grams)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860
Landscape photography with Panasonic S2
47
reasonably wide (21mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
41
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
good battery pack (280 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic S2 Vlogging highlights
33
reasonably wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than average (112g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2015-02-06 2012-01-09
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor 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 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 lbs) 112 grams (0.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 300 photos 280 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $279 $109