Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS50

Below is a detailed assessment of the Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS50, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the TG-870 (16MP) and ZS50 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-870 was revealed 13 months later than the ZS50 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the TG-870 grades versus the ZS50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-870 Gallery & Panasonic ZS50 Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-870 provides external dimensions 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 ZS50 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-870 and the ZS50.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the TG-870 and ZS50 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Often, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The photograph underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and ZS50.

All in all, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus TG-870 to give greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern TG-870 provides an advantage in sensor tech.