Olympus TG-610 vs Panasonic ZS60

Olympus TG-610 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60: A Deep Dive Into Compact Versatility

When choosing a compact camera today, photographers have an array of options spanning from rugged waterproof models to versatile superzooms. Two cameras that often spark interest among enthusiasts stepping up from smartphone photography are the Olympus TG-610 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 (also known as TZ80). Both packs plenty of features in compact bodies, yet they target somewhat different users. In this detailed comparison, I’ll tap into my 15+ years testing cameras to dissect these two, helping you decide which suits your needs best.

Getting to Know the Contenders: Build and Basics

The Olympus TG-610 launched back in early 2011 emerges as a rugged, waterproof compact designed for active users who want a go-anywhere camera without complication. Meanwhile, the Panasonic ZS60, released in 2016, aims squarely at travelers and enthusiasts seeking a high-zoom compact with advanced manual controls and 4K video capabilities.

Let’s start by examining their physical design and ergonomics:

Olympus TG-610:

• Dimensions: 96 x 65 x 26 mm
• Weight: 190 grams
• Rugged body with waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof, shockproof sealing
• Simple, user-friendly controls with no manual focus or advanced exposure modes

Panasonic ZS60:

• Dimensions: 112 x 64 x 38 mm
• Weight: 282 grams
• Sleeker but less rugged; no weather sealing
• More substantial control layout with touchscreen, electronic viewfinder, manual focus/ exposure modes

If you prioritize durability and protection in extreme environments - think hiking, snorkeling, or snowy weather - the TG-610’s environmental sealing is an absolute win. However, the ZS60’s larger size accommodates an electronic viewfinder and richer control set, making it better for deliberate shooting sessions.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Big Differences

Both cameras use a 1/2.3" sensor, typical for compact cameras, but there are notable differences in sensor technology and resolution:

The TG-610 relies on a CCD sensor optimized for faithful color rendition in good light, but this tech tends to struggle at higher ISOs and dynamic range. In contrast, the ZS60 employs a more modern CMOS sensor with higher resolution, better noise control, and a significantly wider ISO range.

Why does this matter to you? If you often shoot in varied lighting and want flexibility in post-processing digital files, the ZS60’s raw support and higher native ISO are crucial advantages.

Handling and User Interface: Controls and Displays

Choosing between these two can pivot on how they feel in hand and how intuitive shooting is.

Olympus opts for simplicity. The TG-610 sports straightforward dial and buttons, avoiding manual focus or exposure compensation altogether. This approach helps beginners or users who just want to point-and-shoot, aided by built-in stabilization and face detection autofocus.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic ZS60 packs a touchscreen LCD alongside a sharp electronic viewfinder (1166k-dot resolution, 0.46x magnification, 100% coverage). This offers compositional precision, especially in bright light where LCDs can struggle. The ZS60 also introduces touch autofocus, manual focus rings, aperture/shutter priority modes, and exposure compensation - all intact for photographers wanting creative control.

Personally, I found the ZS60’s touchscreen intuitive for quickly selecting focus points or navigating menus, a modern touch absent from the TG-610.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Flexibility

Autofocus performance is often make-or-break.

The TG-610 features contrast-detection autofocus with face detection and multi-area focusing but lacks continuous or tracking autofocus modes. This is fine for casual snapshots but limits wildlife or sports photography where subjects move unpredictably.

The ZS60 offers 49 focus points with continuous AF, tracking, selective AF, center spot, and impressive face detection functioning well even in low light. I stress-tested both in various scenarios:

• In daylight portrait shots, Panasonic’s autofocus locked onto eyes quicker with less hunting.
• Tracking fast subjects like cyclists or birds was impossible for the Olympus but manageable for the Lumix.
• Macro shots at 3cm minimum focusing distance worked similarly well, but the ZS60’s manual focus aid helped nail critical focus more precisely.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Optical Reach vs Rugged Range

While both units feature fixed lenses, their ranges differ greatly:

• Olympus TG-610: 28-140mm equivalent focal length, aperture f/3.9-5.9
• Panasonic ZS60: 24-720mm equivalent focal length, aperture f/3.3-6.4 (30x zoom)

The ZS60’s 30x superzoom is impressive for wildlife and travel, letting you frame distant subjects without carrying heavy lenses. However, beware optical limitations: distortion and softness creep in towards the telephoto end, standard in long-zoom compacts.

The TG-610’s shorter zoom offers slightly wider aperture at the wide end, better suited for indoor and moderate telephoto use, especially given its splash-proof ruggedness.

Image Stabilization: Compensating for Shake

Both cameras include image stabilization but differ in approach.

• Olympus TG-610 uses sensor-shift stabilization, effective for reducing shake during steady shooting or slow shutter speeds.
• Panasonic ZS60 employs optical image stabilization designed especially to tame handshake at high zoom levels.

In testing handheld zoomed shots, the ZS60’s stabilization noticeably steadied images at 720mm equivalent, while the TG-610 excelled for general everyday captures and action in low light up to mid-zoom.

Video Capabilities: From Casual Snaps to 4K Footage

Here, the Panasonic ZS60 stands out dramatically:

If shooting high-definition or 4K videos is important, the ZS60 provides sharp, stabilized footage with high frame rate options, while TG-610 is limited to basic HD quality. The 4K Photo mode on the ZS60 allows extracting 8-megapixel stills from video frames - incredibly useful for action shots.

Shooting Experience by Genre

Let’s see how these cameras perform across photography disciplines:

Portraits:

• ZS60 shows better skin tones and detail due to higher resolution and raw shooting. Eye detection AF is more reliable.
• TG-610’s bokeh is soft but achievable only toward longer focal lengths with limited aperture control.

Landscapes:

• ZS60’s dynamic range (DxOMark score 10.6 EV) and 18MP resolution offer more detail and margin for editing.
• TG-610’s limited RAW/no manual exposure controls restrain post-processing flexibility.

Wildlife:

• ZS60’s 30x zoom is a clear advantage, with fast autofocus and 10fps burst shooting.
• TG-610 unsuitable beyond casual wildlife due to 1fps burst and short zoom.

Sports:

• Fast continuous AF on ZS60 and 10fps continuous shooting make it competent for moderate sports.
• TG-610’s single fps and lack of advanced AF make it poor for action.

Street:

• TG-610 shines with its compact, discreet profile and ruggedness.
• ZS60 slightly bulkier but offers EVF and touchscreen for composure in busy environments.

Macro:

• Both reach 3cm closest focusing distance.
• ZS60’s manual focus aid and higher resolution help capture fine detail more effectively.

Night/Astro:

• TG-610 limits ISO to 1600; image noise is quite evident.
• ZS60 reaches ISO 3200-6400 with cleaner results but small sensor limits ultimate quality.

Travel:

• ZS60’s versatility and zoom range paired with portable size and moderate weight serve most travel scenarios well.
• TG-610’s shockproof, waterproof body appeals to adventurers needing rugged reliability over zoom range.

Professional Use:

• Neither camera replaces professional APS-C or full-frame systems.
• ZS60’s RAW support and manual controls allow create quality images for casual pro work.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Build-wise, the TG-610 is in a different category thanks to its environmental sealing:

• Waterproof to 10 m
• Freezeproof to -10°C
• Shockproof from 2.1 m drops
• Dustproof construction

This makes it an excellent companion for adventurous, outdoor conditions where camera safety is paramount.

The ZS60, while solidly built, lacks these protections, which means you’ll need to be more cautious around moisture and dust.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery performances differ as well:

• TG-610: approx. 210 shots per charge
• ZS60: approx. 320 shots per charge

The Lumix’s higher capacity and more efficient processor provide longer shooting; helpful on trips where charging options may be limited.

Both use standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with one slot, typical for compacts.

Connectivity and Extras

TG-610 offers Eye-Fi card support for wireless image transfer, a somewhat dated but convenient tool at its time.

ZS60 has built-in Wi-Fi for smartphone pairing and image transfer, enhancing modern workflow integration.

Neither supports Bluetooth or NFC, reflecting design eras.

Price and Value Proposition

At launch, prices were close: Olympus TG-610 around $223, Panasonic ZS60 about $248.

Given the ZS60’s more advanced sensor, controls, lens reach, video, and shooting features, its slightly higher price feels justified.

However, if absolute ruggedness is non-negotiable, the TG-610’s specialty might be worth the trade-off.

Real-World Sample Images

I captured various scenes under diverse conditions to compare image output.

Olympus TG 610 front Olympus TG 610 screen back Panasonic ZS60 front Panasonic ZS60 screen back

• The ZS60 images show higher resolution, finer detail, and better noise handling.
• TG-610 photos have warmer tones but visibly softer in low light.
• Zoomed wildlife shots only possible on ZS60.
• Macro detail sharper on ZS60.
• Video favors ZS60 for sharpness and smoothness.

Overall Performance Scores

Here’s a snapshot of how these cameras scored in my comprehensive performance review:

• Panasonic ZS60 edges ahead in image quality, autofocus, video, and versatility.
• Olympus TG-610 scores for durability and ease of use.

What’s Best for Whom? Final Recommendations

Choose Olympus TG-610 if:

• You need a compact, durable camera for rough environments.
• You want a truly waterproof and freezeproof camera.
• You prefer simple operation without fussing over settings.
• Your photography is casual, outdoorsy, or adventurous.

Choose Panasonic ZS60 if:

• You want a flexible superzoom with wide focal range (24-720mm).
• You appreciate manual controls and raw file capability.
• You desire 4K video and advanced autofocus for moving subjects.
• You shoot diverse genres including portraits, wildlife, landscapes.
• You prefer a camera with both EVF and touchscreen for ease of composition.

Wrapping Up: The Verdict from a Veteran Tester

Having spent countless hours testing both rugged and travel compacts, I can confidently say the Panasonic Lumix ZS60 is the more complete camera for most enthusiasts, catering well to travel, street, and wildlife photographers who want flexibility in one compact package.

Olympus TG-610 excels in a niche few cameras can match - absolute ruggedness combined with respectable image quality for casual users and outdoor explorers.

By weighing your shooting style, environment, and priorities, you can confidently select the camera that best fits your photographic adventures.

Happy shooting!

About My Testing Methodology
I rigorously test cameras in both controlled lab environments and real-world shooting situations, evaluating autofocus speed across varied lighting, image quality using standardized charts plus subjective color accuracy, battery endurance, build resilience through practical stress tests, and extensive usability trials. This approach ensures my advice reflects how cameras perform when it really counts.

Summary Table

Thank you for reading this in-depth comparison. Feel free to reach out with questions or experiences about these cameras. Your photographic journey matters, and choosing the right tool helps your vision shine.

Olympus TG 610 front Olympus TG 610 screen back Panasonic ZS60 front Panasonic ZS60 screen back