Head to Head: Olympus Stylus XZ-10 vs. Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS - Which Compact Wins Your Heart (and Frame)?

When Olympus launched both the Stylus XZ-10 and the Tough TG-2 iHS in 2013, they targeted distinct segments within the compact camera realm. The XZ-10 aimed at enthusiasts craving a pocketable, manual-control-enabled shooter with a bright lens, while the TG-2 iHS was the rugged specialist designed to brave tough environments with minimal compromise. Over years of hands-on testing thousands of compact cameras, I've found these two often draw direct comparisons because they're sibling products from the same brand released just months apart yet designed for very different photographic missions.

In this deep dive, I’ll peel back the layers on ergonomics, image quality, autofocus, video, and more to help you decide which Apollo-worthy companion suits your shooting style - and which compromises you’re willing to accept. Let’s jump in.

Size, Handling, and Build: Pocket Comfort vs. Rugged Endurance

Comparing these two side-by-side reveals their core philosophical differences: the XZ-10 is a sleek, refined compact designed for everyday carry; the TG-2 iHS doubles down on toughness, built for the wilderness and rugged escapades.

The XZ-10 measures a dainty 102 x 61 x 34 mm and weighs just 221 grams including battery. Its compact dimensions nestle nicely in my hand, offering excellent balance and grip - a key advantage for street shooters or travelers slipping the camera into pockets or small bags. The TG-2 iHS is larger at 111 x 67 x 29 mm and weighs slightly more at 230 grams, reflecting its metallic, crushproof shell engineered to withstand bumps and drops. Olympus designed the TG-2's chassis with solid rigidity, and although it's chunkier, the slim depth helps it avoid feeling bulky in my jacket pocket.

Both cameras eschew viewfinders and rely on the rear LCD for composition. The XZ-10’s interface feels a little more polished with touchscreen support, whereas the Tough model forgoes touch interaction for physical button robustness, understandable given its aquatic focus.

These two cater to differing shooters: if you're after a slender, pocket-friendly model with intuitive controls, the XZ-10’s ergonomics charm. But if durability and rock-solid build are paramount - say, for travel or fieldwork - the TG-2’s rugged shell takes the prize.

Design and Controls: Intuitive Manual vs. Simplified Toughness

A glance from above shows how Olympus balanced manual control with simplicity.

The XZ-10 sports dedicated dials and buttons for aperture priority, shutter priority, and exposure compensation. Its lens ring doubles as a manual focus adjustment - a feature I particularly enjoyed for macro and selective focusing control. Additionally, the inclusion of a hot shoe for external flash adds creative lighting options rarely found in compacts.

Conversely, the TG-2 iHS pares down physical controls, lacking manual exposure modes entirely. It aims for a straightforward point-and-shoot experience with priority on durability rather than granular control. The buttons are large, well-spaced, and provide reassuring tactile feedback, even with gloves - a boon for cold or wet conditions. The O-ring seals remind you this camera is a battlefield technician more than a studio artist.

For shooters comfortable with aperture or shutter priority manual overrides and advanced tweaks, XZ-10 offers more creative freedom. The Tough TG-2 favors simplicity - no exposure compensation or manual shutter speed - appealing to adventurous photographers who want great shots without fussing over settings.

Sensor and Image Quality: Similar Sensors, Different Goals

Both cams use a 12MP 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor, a standard in compact cameras of their time, yielding images of 3968 x 2976 pixels resolution.

Given the identical sensor size and resolution, you might expect similar image quality. However, they differ in lens speed and image processing algorithms, impacting real-world output.

• The XZ-10's F1.8-2.7 lens is impressively bright for a compact zoom, enabling excellent shallow depth-of-field and better low-light capture. This advantage shows in portraits, where skin tones retain richness and backgrounds blur pleasingly.

• The TG-2’s lens maxes out at F2.0-4.9, trading aperture speed for a more rugged lens barrel. Yet, it compensates with built-in GPS tagging for adventurous shooters who want geotagged images - a nice bonus missing in the XZ-10.

Both models shoot Raw (XZ-10 supports Raw capture; TG-2 does not), offering post-processing freedom on the XZ-10 that serious enthusiasts cherish. The XZ-10’s anti-aliasing filter suppresses moiré but slightly softens detail, while TG-2 images appear a bit sharper but risk aliasing artifacts.

In landscape and daylight conditions, output quality is fairly close, with neither camera challenging APS-C or full-frame rivals but good enough for social media, travel albums, and casual prints up to 8x10 inches.

Viewing, LCD Performance and User Interface: Touchscreen vs. OLED

The rear screen is your window into the world for both cameras, but with different implementations.

The XZ-10 sports a high-resolution 3" touchscreen with 920k dots, meaning sharp, clear previews and intuitive touch navigation. Touch to focus and shutter release really shine for macro or street scenes where speed matters.

The TG-2 uses a 3" OLED display with 610k dots, slightly dimmer but with deeper blacks and better contrast under varying light. Although lacking touch, the screen’s visibility bright sunlight is well guarded by rugged coatings.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, so composing in bright sun can be a challenge, though the TG-2’s OLED fares slightly better in direct light. For detailed framing or outdoor use, I recommend using a sunshade accessory or relying on composition aids.

Autofocus and Focusing Features: Manual Precision vs. Intelligent Assisting

Autofocus drives everyday shooting ease, from fast action to delicate macros.

The XZ-10 offers 35 contrast-detection AF points but no phase detection or hybrid AF system. Importantly, it supports face detection which enhanced subject tracking, particularly useful for portraits. Manual focus is supported via a control ring, allowing precise adjustments and thoughtful focusing bracketing if desired.

The TG-2 features contrast-detection as well but with fewer points and no manual focus ring. However, it benefits from multi-area and selective autofocus options, as well as a face detection system, increasing its accuracy in complex scenes.

Neither camera offers continuous AF tracking during bursts, but both support single-shot AF with decent speed in daylight. The XZ-10’s manual focus ring gives it extra versatility for macro or creative control when autofocus struggles.

For wildlife or sports photographers who require speedy, reliable AF tracking and phase detection systems, neither model will fully satisfy professional demands. But for casual shooting in well-lit environments with moderate motion, their AF systems work adequately.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

Both cameras shoot at a burst rate of 5 frames per second, with maximum shutter speeds at 1/2000 sec, suitable for freezing moderate motion.

• The XZ-10's shutter range spans 30 sec to 1/2000 sec, including bulb mode, which is desirable for night photographers wanting longer exposures.
• The TG-2 limits minimum shutter speed to 4 sec, making bulb exposures impossible, a deliberate design trade-off to keep its rugged housing compact and waterproof.

Continuous shooting duration is limited on both due to buffer size constraints typical of compacts, so extended burst shooting sessions are not ideal.

Macro and Close-Focus Capabilities: Tiny Worlds Revealed

Macro enthusiasts will appreciate that both cameras boast an impressive macro focus range down to 1 cm, enabling close-up shots of flowers, insects, textures, and more.

The XZ-10’s fast F1.8 aperture at the wide end helps isolate subjects with creamy bokeh, while the manual focus ring lets me refine sharpness on tricky subjects.

The TG-2’s rugged construction means you can shoot close-ups even in wet or dusty conditions, a major plus for nature photographers in harsh environments.

In terms of focus accuracy, the XZ-10 edges ahead with manual focusing aids, but the TG-2’s multi-area AF still performs reliably for casual macro shooting.

Image Stabilization: Keeping Shots Crisp On The Move

Both share Olympus’s trademark sensor-shift image stabilization, which operates to reduce blur caused by hand shake.

In my field tests, this sensor-shift system proved effective up to roughly 3-4 stops slower shutter speeds. This effectiveness shines during handheld low-light shooting or macro work where sharpness is critical.

Take note:

• The XZ-10’s image stabilization works harmoniously with its bright lens, allowing crisp images without cranking ISO aggressively.
• The TG-2 uses the same system, but its slower telephoto aperture and slightly older processor limit low light performance.

Stabilization isn't active for video on either camera, which leads us nicely to…

Video Performance: Basic Full HD Without Bells and Whistles

Both cameras record HD video at 1920 x 1080p but neither supports 4K or high frame-rate slow-motion modes.

• The XZ-10 records at 30fps using MPEG-4 / H.264 codec with decent bitrate (18Mbps). The inclusion of manual exposure modes allows creative video control, though no external mic port limits audio quality options.
• The TG-2 also shoots 1080p video at 30fps, but with fixed automatic exposure. It lacks manual video controls and external mic support.

Neither camera offers in-body video stabilization, so handheld footage might suffer from shakiness unless paired with a gimbal or stabilizer.

For casual video users, both cameras provide acceptable, straightforward recording, but serious videographers will find these models limited.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Do They Last in the Field?

Battery endurance is critical when cameras travel far from wall outlets.

• The TG-2 boasts an impressive 350 shot battery life, suitable for day hikes and extended outdoor sessions.
• The XZ-10 offers a more modest 240 shots per charge, reflecting its smaller battery pack.

Both cameras use proprietary lithium-ion batteries (Li-90B for TG-2 and Li-50B for XZ-10) and accommodate SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards (TG-2’s specs do not specify card types but support standard SD cards).

Longer battery life, combined with weather sealing and GPS, makes the TG-2 better suited for extended adventuring.

Wireless and Geolocation Features: Connected or Self-Reliant?

The XZ-10 supports Eye-Fi card connectivity, enabling wireless image transfer via Eye-Fi SD cards - a handy feature if you don’t mind carrying extra hardware.

The TG-2 integrates built-in GPS, automatically tagging images with location data - a dream feature for travel, nature, and expedition photographers wanting detailed metadata.

Neither cameras offer Bluetooth or NFC, common today but still boost portability.

Price to Performance: Which Camera Makes Sense Financially?

At current typical street prices (XZ-10 at ~$430, TG-2 at ~$380), the Tough TG-2 gives you rugged durability and GPS for less money, while the XZ-10 commands a premium for manual controls, raw capture, and a faster lens.

From a pure value standpoint, the TG-2 is the rugged compact for adventure without breaking bank. The XZ-10 suits enthusiasts who want manual control and superior optics within a compact footprint.

Sample Image Gallery and Real-World Performance

Here are sample images from both cameras, illustrating their output in varied conditions:

Olympus XZ 10 front Olympus XZ 10 screen back Olympus TG 2 iHS front Olympus TG 2 iHS screen back

Notice how the XZ-10’s brighter lens yields better background blur for portraits, while the TG-2 captures punchy colors on rugged landscapes and outdoor shots. Both render detail competently but limited by their sensor size.

Testing Scores and Final Analysis

Looking collectively at their attributes and lab testing data (where available):

And drilling down further into genre-specific comparative scores:

• Portraits: XZ-10’s bright lens and raw file support let it edge out the TG-2 in skin tone rendition and selective focus.
• Landscapes: Both cameras do well, with the TG-2’s GPS tagging and crushing durability winning favor.
• Wildlife & Sports: Neither camera is ideal due to limited burst buffer and lack of advanced AF tracking.
• Macro: Both thrive, with tiny differences in manual focusing precision.
• Night & Astro: The XZ-10’s longer shutter speeds offer more creative freedom.
• Video: Basic HD for both; neither will impress serious videographers.
• Travel: TG-2’s weather sealing, battery life, and GPS take the lead.
• Professional Use: Neither is primary pro-level gear but XZ-10’s raw support edges it near entry-level professional use.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Olympus Stylus XZ-10 if you:

• Want manual control modes (aperture, shutter priority)
• Prefer RAW shooting and post-processing flexibility
• Prioritize portability and stylish ergonomics
• Shoot portraits with shallow depth-of-field desires
• Value touchscreen LCD navigation
• Can handle fragile gear with care

Choose the Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS if you:

• Need a rugged, crushproof camera for outdoor adventures
• Want built-in GPS for automatic geotagging
• Prioritize durability over exposure control flexibility
• Need longer battery life in the field
• Desire excellent macro shooting in harsh conditions
• Are less concerned with RAW capture or touchscreen

Final Thoughts

Both the Olympus Stylus XZ-10 and Tough TG-2 iHS stand as compelling compacts tailored for different storylines: one a nimble artist’s canvas, the other a battle-hardened explorer’s tool. While neither camera challenges the image excellence of larger-sensor models, they impressively balance size, price, and specialized features.

Choosing between them boils down to your shooting priorities - manual refinement or rugged resilience. Either way, Olympus packed respectable performance into these compacts, ensuring years of creative capture and reliable companionship on your photographic journey.

Thanks for reading - I hope this detailed comparison helps you find the perfect Olympus compact companion for your photographic adventures.