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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Successor is Olympus TG-870
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the TG-860 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was introduced 14 months later than the SZ8 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the TG-860 matches up vs the SZ8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Panasonic SZ8

 TG-860 SZ8 
ReleasedFebruary 2015January 2014More recent by 14 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus TG-860

 SZ8 TG-860 

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic SZ8

 TG-860 SZ8 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-860 features outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ8 has dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-860 against the SZ8.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and SZ8 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-860 and SZ8.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you can expect comparable quality of photos but you should factor the age of the cameras into account. The younger TG-860 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography details
35
resolution is good (16MP)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
35
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography info
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography details
48
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography highlights
71
weather proof
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
67
lighter than competition (159 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (288mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography highlights
47
relatively wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
weather proof
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
42
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery power (200 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
33
relatively wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
32
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (159 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2015-02-06 2014-01-06
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Yes None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 gr (0.49 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 200 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $279 $275