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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push 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 ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic ZR1, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was unveiled 6 years after the ZR1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the TG-870 scores vs the ZR1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Panasonic ZR1

 TG-870 ZR1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016July 2009Newer by 79 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus TG-870

 ZR1 TG-870 

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic ZR1

 TG-870 ZR1 
Manually focus No manual focus
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-870 offers outer measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic ZR1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-870 against the ZR1.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-870 and ZR1 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The picture below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-870 and ZR1.

All in all, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus TG-870 to show more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern TG-870 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR1
36
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
21
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Street photography camera
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (221g)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-870
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR1
51
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
great battery life (300 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
69
great battery life (300 per charge)
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (21mm)
heavier than competition in class (221g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
57
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography highlights
50
reasonably wide (21mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
environment proof
great battery life (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Vlogging camera
32
reasonably wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (221 grams)
28
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-01-06 2009-07-27
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 grams (0.49 pounds) 158 grams (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $280 $280