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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-870
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-860 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-860 was revealed 2 years later than the ZS15 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the TG-860 grades vs the ZS15 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Panasonic ZS15

 TG-860 ZS15 
ReleasedFebruary 2015June 2012More recent by 32 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus TG-860

 ZS15 TG-860 

Common features in the Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic ZS15

 TG-860 ZS15 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-860 provides outside 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 ZS15 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the TG-860 versus the ZS15.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-860 and ZS15 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The graphic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-860 and ZS15.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Olympus TG-860 to provide you with more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more modern TG-860 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography details
36
MP count good (16MP)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
21
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-860 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Street photography camera
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-860
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography advice
71
environment proofing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
61
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (260 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
48
quite wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
37
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery power (260 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-860 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging advice
33
quite wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
33
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (208g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
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Olympus TG-860 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-860 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-02-06 2012-06-29
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 224 gr (0.49 pounds) 208 gr (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 photos 260 photos
Battery style 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 type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $279 $279