Olympus XZ-10 vs Panasonic Lumix TS2: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Compact Camera Buyer

In the world of compact cameras, choosing a model that balances image quality, features, durability, and price can be a daunting task - especially when models come from trusted brands like Olympus and Panasonic. Today, we delve deep into a comparison between two compact cameras that stand out from each other in quite distinct ways: the Olympus Stylus XZ-10 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 (also known as Lumix DMC-FT2).

Drawing upon hours of hands-on testing and analysis, I will dissect their core technologies, real-world usability, and performance across a range of photography genres. Whether you’re an enthusiast seeking an all-around travel companion or a professional looking for a tough backup camera, this comparison aims to provide crystal-clear insights to guide your next purchase.

Getting Acquainted: Body and Handling

Understanding ergonomics and build quality is crucial when evaluating compact cameras, especially since portability and ease-of-use often drive the choice in this category.

The Olympus XZ-10 offers a traditional compact camera form factor with dimensions of 102 x 61 x 34 mm and a weight of 221 grams. It sports a relatively deep grip and a thoughtfully laid-out control scheme. Contrast this with the much more rugged and travel-ready Panasonic TS2, which, at 99 x 63 x 24 mm and 188 grams, is clearly more streamlined and weatherproof.

When comparing physical size and ergonomics side by side, the XZ-10 feels slightly chunkier but firmly comfortable in hand, while the TS2's slimmer design emphasizes portability and durability. For photographers who prioritize pocketability without compromising robust handling, the TS2’s slim and sleek form is appealing, especially built to withstand environmental challenges.

Looking at the top view of both cameras, the XZ-10 boasts a conventional control dial, dedicated exposure compensation button, and a tactile shutter release that conveys a feeling of precision - ideal for photographers who like direct access to manual settings. The TS2 modes and controls are minimal, favoring simplicity and snap-shooting over extensive customization.

In practice, I appreciated the XZ-10’s more comprehensive physical controls for creative flexibility, but the TS2’s simplified interface translates well for casual outings or adventure shooting where ease-of-use under pressure is a priority.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras use a small 1/2.3-inch sensor, a common size in compact cameras but one that inherently limits image quality compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors. However, subtle differences in sensor type and resolution play a pivotal role.

The Olympus XZ-10 features a 12MP BSI-CMOS sensor, known for good sensitivity and improved light-gathering efficiency. The BSI (Back-Illuminated) design allows for better low-light performance relative to traditional sensors of this size.

By contrast, the Panasonic TS2 uses a 14MP CCD sensor. CCD sensors tend to offer slightly better color fidelity but at the expense of higher noise at elevated ISOs and power consumption.

Looking at their sensor dimensions and areas side by side:

The XZ-10's sensor area is around 28.07 mm², marginally larger than the TS2’s 27.72 mm². This negligible difference aside, the sensor technology distinction (BSI-CMOS vs CCD) leads to practical differences in image quality and ISO performance.

In side-by-side shooting tests, Olympus's XZ-10 consistently delivered cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, with less chroma noise and better dynamic range retention. The TS2, while capable of higher resolution shots at base ISO (14MP vs 12MP), showed more pronounced noise and softness in shadows when pushed into low-light environments.

The presence of an anti-aliasing filter on both cameras helps combat moiré but slightly softens image sharpness - though with the XZ-10’s sharper lens design, images retain pleasing clarity.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Visual Feedback and Control

Both cameras lack electronic viewfinders, which is typical in their categories but does limit compositional options in bright light. Hence, the quality and usability of the rear LCD screen become all the more essential.

The Olympus XZ-10 sports a 3-inch fixed LCD screen with 920k-dot resolution and touchscreen functionality, a notable advantage for quick autofocus point selection and menu navigation. In field use, the touchscreen responsiveness enables faster adjustments and intuitive operations - especially helpful for photographers stepping up from smartphone cameras.

The Panasonic TS2, by contrast, has a smaller 2.7-inch screen with a lower 230k-dot resolution, no touchscreen. While the screen is visible enough for general framing, the lower resolution and size make detailed image review less comfortable.

From a usability standpoint, the Olympus screen elevates the photography experience, particularly in travel or portrait work, where focus point selection and exposure adjustments benefit greatly from touchscreen input.

Lens Versatility and Optical Performance

Both cameras share fixed zoom lenses rather than interchangeable lens mounts. The Olympus XZ-10 lens has a focal length range of 26-130mm equivalent with a fast aperture range of f/1.8-2.7 - an exceptionally bright lens for this sensor class. This fast aperture especially shines in portraiture and low-light work, offering beautiful background separation and usable shallow depth-of-field effects rare on fixed-lens compacts.

The Panasonic TS2, with a zoom spanning 28-128mm equivalent and aperture f/3.3-5.9, concentrates more on durability and waterproofing mechanics than on bright optics. The narrower aperture limits shallow depth-of-field creativity and low-light capability but offers decent flexibility for everyday compositions.

The Olympus’s wider aperture lends itself well to portrait photographers craving smooth skin tones and natural bokeh. The TS2's lens, while softer wide-open due to the slower aperture, remains serviceable for landscape, travel, and action snapshots in good lighting.

Photography Genre Performance Breakdown

Portrait Photography

A lens with a large maximum aperture aids portraiture significantly by enabling creamy bokeh and subject isolation. The Olympus XZ-10’s f/1.8 at the wide end (26mm equiv.) and f/2.7 at the tele (130mm equiv.) combined with 35 contrast-detection autofocus points and face detection ensures quick subject recognition and skin tone faithful reproduction. Its sensor can capture smoother gradations in skin tones and controlled highlights.

In contrast, the Panasonic TS2’s slower f/3.3-5.9 lens and lack of face detection autofocus make portraits softer with less background separation and slower AF confirmation.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters value large dynamic range, resolution, and sometimes weather protection. Both cameras have the same sensor size - with the TS2 offering a marginally higher pixel count (14MP vs 12MP).

That said, Olympus's BSI-CMOS sensor provides better dynamic range handling and higher ISO flexibility. The Olympus’s comparatively larger aperture doesn’t impact landscapes much but the wider and clearer LCD screen is a bonus for composing and reviewing shots on location.

However, the TS2 reigns supreme for durability. Its rugged, weatherproof body adds peace of mind for landscapes in rain, snow, or dusty environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is designed for hardcore professional sports or wildlife action photography, but within their category:

• The Olympus XZ-10’s continuous shooting speed of 5 fps combined with a 35-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection helps with moderate action and wildlife.

• The Panasonic TS2 slows down at 2 fps and has fewer AF points (11), though with multi-area AF focus. Its slower lens and smaller buffer reduce burst shooting effectiveness.

For wildlife and sports enthusiasts, the XZ-10 offers a tangible advantage in autofocus speed and frame rate, making it more capable of freezing movement.

Street Photography

Street photography demands discreteness, portability, and quick focusing. Here the Panasonic TS2’s compact, lightweight, and rugged design truly shines - it’s a camera you can comfortably bring anywhere, even where weather or dust presents hurdles.

The Olympus XZ-10, while slightly bulkier, offers more creative control and faster startup, though with the tradeoff of a non-water-resistant body requiring more cautious handling.

Macro Photography

Olympus XZ-10 claims an impressive macro ability down to 1cm, significantly better than the Panasonic’s 5cm minimum focus distance. This precision focusing combined with the bright lens and sensor-shift stabilization yields sharp, well-exposed macro shots - perfect for close-ups of flora, insects, and detailed subjects.

The Panasonic, while serviceable for casual close-ups, can’t compete due to slower lens aperture and longer focus distance.

Night and Astro Photography

Low-light capabilities hinge heavily on sensor type, aperture, and stabilization. Olympus's sensor-shift image stabilization coupled with a bright lens provides cleaner high-ISO images and longer hand-held shutter speeds up to 2 seconds without blur. ISO native range starts at 100 and goes to 6400, with usable results up to ISO 800.

Panasonic’s CCD sensor shines in good light but is noisy at higher ISOs. Its slower lens and weaker stabilization make long exposures tricky without tripods. Shutter speed tops at 1/60 sec minimum for low-light scenes.

For night and astro photographers seeking handheld flexibility, Olympus edges ahead.

Video Capabilities

The Olympus supports Full HD 1080p at 30 fps using MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs, whereas Panasonic tops out at HD 720p with AVCHD Lite compression.

Neither camera offers 4K or advanced video features, but Olympus is clearly the better choice for casual video enthusiasts, with sharper footage and higher bitrate.

Neither provide external mic ports, headphone jacks, or stabilized video modes, keeping expectations realistic.

Travel Photography

Travel shooters prioritize versatility, compactness, battery life, and dependability. The Panasonic TS2’s waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof body makes it a rugged choice for adventure travel - you don’t have to baby it in challenging conditions.

The Olympus XZ-10 brings superior image quality, richer features, and manual controls for those who want better creative options in travel documentation but at the cost of fragile weather sealing.

Battery life numbers favor the Olympus at around 240 shots per charge (approximate), while Panasonic doesn’t specify but typically low-power CCD sensors help extend longevity. Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, standard for ease of use.

Professional Workflow and Reliability

From a professional standpoint, neither camera substitutes for interchangeable lens systems or high-performing autofocus rigs. However, the Olympus supports RAW file shooting, opening doors for detailed post-processing preferred by enthusiasts and pros wanting maximum tonal manipulation. Panasonic TS2 lacks RAW support, limiting flexibility.

Connectivity-wise, the Olympus features Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility, HDMI output, and USB 2.0, whereas Panasonic only has HDMI and USB 2.0, no wireless option.

Build quality differences are stark here - Olympus’s body feels refined but not ruggedized, and Panasonic invests heavily in making the TS2 a waterproof, dustproof tool suitable for tough environments - a key consideration for demanding professional scenarios in hostile conditions.

Putting It All Together: Performance Scores and Value

Here’s a quick look at their overall performance ratings compiled from rigorous lab tests and field use:

A more granular genre-specific breakdown reveals:

It’s clear from the data and experience that the Olympus XZ-10 excels in image quality, autofocus precision, and versatility, while the Panasonic TS2 leads on durability and outdoor readiness.

Sample image comparisons reinforce this point, showing cleaner image rendition from the Olympus and good color accuracy from the Panasonic in well-lit conditions but limitations where lighting is tough:

Olympus XZ 10 front Olympus XZ 10 screen back Panasonic TS2 front Panasonic TS2 screen back

Technical Rundown: Detailed Feature and Spec Comparison

Who Should Choose Which?

Olympus XZ-10 - For Creative Flexibility Enthusiasts

If your priority is superior image quality, manual controls, and a bright lens for portraits, low-light, and creative photography, the Olympus XZ-10 is the clear winner. Its RAW support and touchscreen interface bring more advanced workflows into a compact form factor. The 5 fps burst and face-detection autofocus open doors to moderate action photography.

Ideal users include:

• Portrait photographers who want beautiful bokeh on a budget
• Travel photographers who prioritize IQ over ruggedness and can protect their gear
• Enthusiasts and hobbyists seeking a camera to learn manual controls
• Macro and night photographers who need sharp images and good stabilization

Panasonic Lumix TS2 - For Rugged Travelers and Adventure Shooters

For those who demand durability and reliability under harsh conditions - be it hiking, skiing, or underwater adventures - the Panasonic TS2 offers shockproof, waterproof, and freezeproof construction at an affordable price. While compromises exist in lens speed and image quality, its portability, weather resistance, and simple operation make it a perfect secondary or travel-only daily snapshot camera.

Ideal users include:

• Outdoor and adventure photographers who prioritize toughness
• Casual shooters who want a camera survivable in extreme weather
• Travelers needing a small, lightweight backup that can be thrown in a backpack with no worries
• Budget-conscious buyers valuing ruggedness over advanced features

Final Thoughts from the Field

Both cameras occupy distinct niches despite similar sensor sizes and compact designs. The Olympus XZ-10 appeals strongly to those who want a compact with DSLR-lite creativity and better low-light handling. The Panasonic TS2 plays a different role, excelling in durability and portability for adventurous photographers.

I recommend handling both in-store to feel differences in ergonomics and controls, but if you lean heavily towards image quality and shooting flexibility, the Olympus is the better long-term choice. If your shooting environment calls for a rugged, weatherproof companion you won’t worry about, grab the Panasonic and shoot worry-free.

This comparative review reflects not only specs but countless hours of testing and real-world use - trust in the experience and take these insights along on your photographic journey.

For even deeper technical editorials and sample galleries, keep tuned for our ongoing testing series.

End of comparison article.