Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Panasonic Lumix ZS80: A Hands-On Comparison for Modern Photographers

Choosing the right compact camera today means navigating a diverse landscape of feature sets tailored to specific use cases - from rugged outdoor adventures to versatile travel documentation. The Olympus TG-630 iHS and the Panasonic Lumix ZS80 represent two distinct paths in the compact camera world: one rugged and weather-sealed, the other a superzoom powerhouse with advanced imaging and video capabilities. After spending extensive time with both cameras, thoroughly evaluating their specifications and real-world performance, I’m ready to share a deep dive into what they offer - and more importantly, what they don’t.

Let’s unpack these two models in detail, focusing on how they perform across major photographic disciplines, their technical strengths and compromises, and ultimately who should consider each.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Here’s a good place to start - how do these cameras feel in the hand and live up to the expected user experience?

Olympus TG-630 (left) vs Panasonic ZS80 (right): Size and ergonomics comparison

The Olympus TG-630 iHS is a compact marvel of ruggedness. Its pocket-friendly 98x66x22 mm frame tips the scale at 167 grams, making it incredibly portable. The TG-630’s silhouette screams durability - being waterproof (up to 10m), shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof, and dustproof. If you’re an active photographer who hikes, dives, or frequently shoots in harsh environments, this camera’s build provides a significant advantage.

In contrast, the Panasonic ZS80, while still within the compact category, is larger and heavier (112x69x42 mm, 327 grams). It lacks the TG-630’s environmental seals, so rough weather use calls for more caution. However, the Panasonic’s slightly bigger size is a compromise for enhanced functionality - the tilt-able touchscreen LCD, electronic viewfinder, and an impressively long 30x zoom lens demand a little extra real estate.

Ergonomically, the Olympus opts for simplicity and robustness. Its controls are straightforward, with fewer dials and physical customizability. Meanwhile, the Panasonic's top deck reveals a more sophisticated control layout with dedicated rings for manual focus and exposure adjustments.

Top view highlighting Panasonic’s control dials vs Olympus’s simplified layout

Both cameras integrate their buttons thoughtfully, but I find the ZS80’s touch interface and customizable control rings more appealing for photographers who want quicker access - a definite plus for enthusiast shooters.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Going deeper, sensor size and resolution are critical factors that impact image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

Sensor specs: Same 1/2.3" sensor size but Panasonic offers higher resolution

Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm with roughly 28 mm² area. However, the Olympus TG-630 sports a 12-megapixel sensor, whereas the Panasonic ZS80 bumps the resolution up to 20 megapixels - nearly double.

From a hands-on perspective, this resolution difference matters for detail retention, especially when cropping or printing larger images. The Panasonic’s increased pixel count translates to sharper images with smoother gradations in daylight conditions.

However, higher megapixels on the same sized sensor can introduce tradeoffs, particularly in low light due to smaller pixel sizes. The TG-630 maxes out at ISO 6400, while the Panasonic caps at native ISO 3200, expandable to 6400. Yet, image noise and detail retention distinctly favored the Panasonic when shooting up to ISO 800; past that, noise management falters for both, but less so on Panasonic thanks to its newer BSI CMOS sensor architecture.

Dynamic range, though not directly quantified by DXO for these models, showed hint of superiority in the Panasonic unit - highlight recovery and shadow detail had better preservation during HDR scenarios in landscape shoots.

Display and Viewfinder: Composition and Usability

Live view framing and preview are crucial for any serious photographer, and this is where the Panasonic clearly elevates the user experience.

3-inch fixed LCD on Olympus TG-630 vs 3-inch tilting touchscreen on Panasonic ZS80

The Olympus TG-630 offers a basic fixed 3-inch screen at 460k-dot resolution. It’s perfectly usable outdoors but lacks touch support or articulation options, which can limit creative shooting angles and ease of use.

Meanwhile, the ZS80 brings a 3-inch tilting touchscreen at a much higher 1040k-dot resolution. The tilt mechanism is essential for shots at waist level, overhead, or even selfie-style - which the Panasonic also accommodates with a front-facing flash and selfie-friendly interface. The inclusion of touch autofocus and touch shutter greatly enhances quick subject acquisition - a definite boon in fast-paced shooting environments.

What really distinguishes the Panasonic here is its electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,330k-dot resolution, 100% coverage, and 0.53x magnification. When shooting in bright sunlight or needing precise manual focus, the EVF provides stability and clarity that the Olympus’s lack of any viewfinder makes impossible.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Snapping the Moment

Both cameras are compact, but with divergent philosophies in AF system complexity and burst capabilities.

The TG-630 relies on a contrast-detection autofocus system with face detection and center tracking but offers no continuous autofocus or touch AF support. Autofocus speed is adequate for casual snapshots but hesitant under low light or busy scenes. Continuous shooting tops out at 5 fps, which is respectable but limited by the camera's simplicity.

The ZS80, with more advanced contrast AF and touch tracking support, is a pace ahead. It features continuous autofocus with selectable AF area modes (including face and eye detection), making it well suited for active subjects like kids or pets. The burst shooting increases to 10 fps, a notable upgrade useful for capturing sports or wildlife action - although buffer depth remains limited due to compact camera constraints.

While neither camera targets professional sports shooters, the Panasonic’s responsiveness and tracking abilities position it more confidently for dynamic subjects in urban or casual wildlife settings.

Lens and Zoom Versatility

Here is where the two cameras part ways dramatically.

• Olympus TG-630 iHS: 28-140 mm (5x zoom), aperture F3.9-5.9
• Panasonic ZS80: 24-720 mm (30x zoom), aperture F3.3-6.4

The TG-630’s modest 5x zoom is ideal for everyday shooting at moderate distances. Its lens offers a reasonably bright aperture at the wide end for a compact, aiding low light photography and background blur, especially in portraiture or macro modes.

Yet, the Panasonic’s 30x reach is a game changer for travelers and nature shooters who prize flexibility. The ability to shift from a landscape-friendly ultra-wide 24 mm to a bird-in-the-distance-worthy 720 mm telephoto in one package is remarkable.

Although the Panasonic’s tele end can be slower and more prone to camera shake, its in-lens optical stabilization compensates well. The Olympus employs sensor-shift stabilization, which is effective too, but combined with less zoom reach limits framing options.

Real-World Photography Scenarios

I tested both cameras across multiple photography disciplines to see how their specs translate to actual usage.

Portrait Photography

The Panasonic’s higher resolution sensor and manual focus make it easier to render skin tones with more accuracy and subtlety. Its higher megapixel count also aids in cropping tight portraits without loss of detail. Face and eye detection AF contributed to consistently sharp eyes in my tests.

The Olympus, despite its lower resolution, delivers good color fidelity, and its macro ability down to 1cm focal distance allows for interesting close-ups. However, the bokeh effect is limited by a smaller aperture and focal range.

Landscape and Travel

With superior dynamic range and wider-angle capability, the Panasonic excels for landscapes. Image detail remains crisp even at low ISOs, while the EVF aids composition in bright conditions.

The Olympus’s ruggedness is a highlight for adventurous travelers venturing into challenging environments - wet, dusty, cold - where most cameras would falter. Its shockproof design inspires confidence on hikes or outdoor excursions where durability trumps specs.

Wildlife and Sports

For wildlife, Panasonic’s 720 mm reach combined with faster continuous AF and burst mode largely outperforms the Olympus’s shorter zoom and slower AF. While the Olympus suffers from slower autofocus response during subjects’ quick movements, the Panasonic tracks faster and more reliably.

Sports shooters will appreciate the Panasonic’s burst frame rate and touch tracking, although both cameras struggle in very low-light sports venues due to sensor size.

Street and Macro Photography

The Olympus is smaller, quieter, and simpler - advantageous for candid street shooting when discretion is key. Its macro focus down to 1 cm is fantastic for detail work on flowers or insects.

The Panasonic’s tilting touchscreen and manual focus assist macro photography, but a minimum focus distance of 3cm slightly limits extreme close-ups compared to the TG-630.

Night and Astrophotography

Neither camera is designed specifically for night or astrophotography, but the Panasonic’s 4K video and photo modes allow creative night shots with stabilization. Its maximum electronic shutter speed (1/16000 s) can also help in bright conditions.

The Olympus offers no dedicated exposure modes for night shooting, and the earlier sensor technology produces more noise at high ISOs.

Video Capabilities

Panasonic takes video seriously, offering UHD 4K at 30p and Full HD 60p with H.264 compression, plus 4K photo mode for extracting high-res stills from video - features photographers who shoot hybrid video will appreciate. It also has a microphone port, missing on the Olympus.

Olympus caps out at Full HD 60p video with no 4K and generally more limited codec options. No microphone input and lack of advanced video controls constrain usability for videographers.

Technical Features Deep Dive

Image Stabilization

The Olympus employs sensor-shift stabilization that works well for stills, especially at its moderate zoom, and helps when shooting macro or low shutter speeds.

The Panasonic ZS80 uses optical image stabilization (OIS) built into the lens, which is essential for its extensive 30x zoom range. In practice, Panasonic’s OIS achieved steadier handheld shots at long focal lengths, an important factor for sharpness.

Connectivity and Storage

The Panasonic’s built-in wireless (with Bluetooth) enables easy image transfer and remote control - a big plus for modern workflows. Olympus TG-630 lacks any wireless connectivity, limiting remote operation or wireless image sharing.

Both cameras use single SD card slots and USB 2.0 connections - standard but constrained for faster data handling.

Battery Life

Panasonic delivers nearly double the battery life (380 vs 220 shots per charge in CIPA tests), which is significant when traveling or shooting for extended periods without charging options.

Price and Value Analysis

At their respective prices - Olympus around $200 and Panasonic around $450 - they cater to different budgets and use cases.

If budget and ruggedness are priorities, the Olympus TG-630 offers a compelling, waterproof, shockproof option that can endure environments other cameras dare not enter, at a friendly price.

If versatility, image quality, and zoom range top your list, and you can stretch your budget, the Panasonic ZS80 positions itself as a feature-packed compact superzoom with better resolution, video, and user interface.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Olympus TG 630 iHS front Olympus TG 630 iHS screen back Panasonic ZS80 front Panasonic ZS80 screen back

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

If you’re:

• An outdoor adventurer needing a rugged, reliable camera that can survive water, shocks, and temperature extremes on hikes, dives, or mountain climbing excursions: opt for the Olympus TG-630.

• A travel photographer craving a wide zoom range, higher image resolution, video versatility, and a touchscreen interface with an EVF for varied conditions: invest in the Panasonic ZS80.

• A casual shooter wanting a simple, easy-to-use waterproof camera that won’t mind a smaller zoom and fewer manual options: Olympus TG-630 is your budget-friendly pick.

• A technology enthusiast or aspiring hybrid shooter needing 4K video, RAW photo capture, and manual controls: Panasonic ZS80 delivers much more creative freedom.

Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Scores

Our rigorous field and lab tests rated these cameras across various photography genres - portrait, landscape, wildlife, and more.

Wrapping Up: Expertise-Driven Verdict

Both the Olympus TG-630 and Panasonic ZS80 have carved niches that they serve well given their age and specifications. In my fifteen-plus years of testing compact cameras, it’s rare to see such a stark contrast in intended usage resting under the same category umbrella. The Olympus TG-630 is a no-nonsense, durable companion tailored to rough conditions and simple operation, while the Panasonic ZS80 is a more sophisticated, versatile all-rounder built for image quality and zoom reach.

Your decision ultimately depends on your primary shooting environment and priorities - if going off the beaten path with assurance in harsh environments is paramount, the TG-630 is tough to beat. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a travelable all-rounder that delivers high-res images, flexible zoom, and advanced controls, the ZS80 is a wiser if costlier investment.

By assessing sensor performance, autofocus behavior, ergonomics, and image results across diverse scenarios, these conclusions rest firmly on hands-on expertise and transparent evaluation rather than marketing spin.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera choice perfectly serve your photographic ambitions!

Note: All technical data and images are derived from direct testing and manufacturer specifications to assure accuracy. Continuous firmware updates for either model may affect performance over time.