Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GX9

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic GX9, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the GX9 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-870 (1/2.3") and GX9 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizes.

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The TG-870 was launched 3 years prior to the GX9 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the TG-870 grades vs the GX9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 and Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9. The complete galleries are available at Olympus TG-870 Gallery and Panasonic GX9 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-870 features exterior measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) and the Panasonic GX9 has sizing of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") having a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic GX9 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-870 versus the GX9.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and GX9 is 91 and 82 respectively.

Normally, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through specs. The visual underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and GX9.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The TG-870 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic GX9 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older TG-870 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.