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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 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
  • Launched February 2015
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-870
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is very similar and both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was released 3 years after the SZ7 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the TG-860 grades versus the SZ7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Panasonic SZ7

 TG-860 SZ7 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2012More modern by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus TG-860

 SZ7 TG-860 

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic SZ7

 TG-860 SZ7 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-860 has external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ7 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-860 against the SZ7.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the TG-860 and SZ7 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-860 and SZ7.

Clearly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus TG-860 to offer more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger TG-860 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
35
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
33
good MP (14MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography factors
69
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (133 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography information
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography info
71
environment proofing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (21mm)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
70
lighter than competitors (133g)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ7
47
really wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
42
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-860
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ7
33
really wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing mic port
35
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (133 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-02-06 2012-01-09
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 21-105mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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 gr (0.49 lbs) 133 gr (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" 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 images 220 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $279 $199