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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
48
Features
57
Overall
51

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus TG-860
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic GH2
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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and GH1 (12MP) and the TG-870 (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) come with different sensor sizing.

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The TG-870 was revealed 6 years after the GH1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the TG-870 scores versus the GH1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Panasonic GH1

 TG-870 GH1 
LaunchedJanuary 2016July 2009Newer by 80 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus TG-870

 GH1 TG-870 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic GH1

 TG-870 GH1 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-870 enjoys 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) while the Panasonic GH1 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-870 vs the GH1.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and GH1 is 91 and 81 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The picture here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-870 and GH1.

As you can tell, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-870 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus TG-870 will give you extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger TG-870 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Panasonic GH1
35
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
58
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Street photography factors
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (221 grams)
72
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography information
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography information
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery (300 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
32
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (320 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Travel photography info
Panasonic GH1 Travel photography info
69
better than average battery (300 CIPA)
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
more heavy than competitors in class (221 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
58
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (320 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography info
50
relatively wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather sealing
better than average battery (300 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (320 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Vlogging camera
32
relatively wide (21mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (221 grams)
72
selfie friendly display
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic port
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Class Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2016-01-06 2009-07-10
Body design Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine HD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 10.50 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lb) 385 grams (0.85 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 300 photos 320 photos
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 shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $280 $949