Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic S3

Here is a detailed analysis of the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic S3, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is fairly well matched and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was introduced 4 years later than the S3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the TG-860 scores against the S3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-860 Gallery & Panasonic S3 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-860 features exterior 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 S3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic S3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-860 compared to the S3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and S3 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Generally, its tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The visual below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-860 and S3.

To sum up, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Olympus TG-860 to give you greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The younger TG-860 provides a benefit in sensor tech.