Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ5

Here, we are matching up the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic SZ5, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was manufactured 2 years after the SZ5 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the TG-860 matches up vs the SZ5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-860 Gallery and Panasonic SZ5 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-860 provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-860 against the SZ5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-860 and SZ5 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading specifications. The image underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and SZ5.

To sum up, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-860 to deliver greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger TG-860 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.