In-Depth Comparison: Olympus TG-630 iHS vs Panasonic Lumix G95

When assessing two fundamentally different cameras - a rugged compact versus an advanced mirrorless system - it’s critical to move beyond specs alone and analyze how each performs in real-world photographic scenarios. The Olympus TG-630 iHS, a robust waterproof point-and-shoot introduced in 2013, contrasts sharply with the 2019 Panasonic Lumix G95, a feature-rich Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mirrorless option aimed at enthusiasts and prosumers.

Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years - evaluating image quality, autofocus reliability, ergonomics, and system extensibility - this article offers a granular, practical comparison across all shooting genres. It likewise addresses workflow and value considerations while maintaining an objective viewpoint grounded in real usage.

Design and Handling: Compact Versus Ergonomic Control

At first glance, the physical disparity is striking. The Olympus TG-630 is a compact, 98 x 66 x 22 mm, 167-gram unit with a fixed lens and minimal controls. This design emphasizes portability and extreme durability - it is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof. Such resilience targets adventurous users requiring a no-fuss camera for rugged environments without needing additional housing.

Conversely, the Panasonic G95 adopts a traditional SLR-style mirrorless body, significantly larger at 130 x 94 x 77 mm and weighing 536 grams. Its heavier construction accommodates sophisticated manual controls, a grip optimized for prolonged shooting, and advanced hardware such as a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) and articulating touchscreen.

The G95 includes illuminated buttons and an extensive array of dials and customizable controls, crucial for professional workflows demanding quick access to exposure, autofocus modes, and drive settings. The fixed-lens Olympus relies on a simpler interface with no manual aperture or shutter priority modes, limiting its appeal for experienced photographers seeking creative control.

In terms of ergonomics, the Panasonic's grip and button placement are designed for confident use with large lenses, supporting demanding situations such as wildlife or sports photography. The TG-630’s compactness makes it highly pocketable and unobtrusive - an asset for travel and street scenarios but a hurdle if prolonged handling without strain is necessary.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensor Simplicity vs. Large Sensor Flexibility

Sensor technology underpins every photographic decision. The Olympus TG-630 employs a 1/2.3” type, 12-megapixel CMOS sensor measuring approximately 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with a sensor area of 28.07 mm². This sensor size, common in compact cameras, imposes design constraints including limited dynamic range, increased noise at higher ISOs, and reduced control over depth of field.

By contrast, the Panasonic G95 utilizes a Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm with 20.3 megapixels, offering a substantially larger surface area (224.9 mm²), approximately eight times that of the TG-630 sensor. This translates into superior image quality, particularly regarding noise control at elevated ISO sensitivities, color depth, and tonal gradation.

The G95's omission of an optical low-pass filter (anti-aliasing filter) further enhances sharpness, enabling critical landscape, macro, and detail-rich photography. The TG-630, designed for casual photography, includes an anti-aliasing filter to prevent moiré, which slightly reduces acutance.

While the TG-630’s native ISO range spans 100 to 6400, practical image quality significantly drops beyond ISO 400 due to sensor limitations. The Panasonic’s native ISO 200 to 25600 yields clean files even at 3200 and usable results up to 6400, giving it commanding low-light advantage and flexibility for night and astro-photography.

Display and User Interface: Fixed Versus Fully Articulated Touchscreen

The Olympus TG-630 comes equipped with a fixed 3-inch LCD featuring 460,000 dots - sufficient for basic framing and review but lacking touchscreen capability and any articulation. This limits usability in awkward shooting positions, and the absence of live view touch focusing detracts from rapid subject acquisition.

On the other hand, Panasonic’s G95 boasts a fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen LCD with high-resolution 1,240,000 dots, enabling 180-degree swivel useful for vlogging, tripod work, and difficult angles. The touchscreen supports touch autofocus, touch shutter, and menu navigation, which accelerates usability - an important factor for hybrid stills and video shooters.

Additionally, the G95 offers a 2.36-million dots EVF with 100% frame coverage and 0.74x magnification, critical for bright outdoors visibility and eye-level composition. The TG-630 omits any form of viewfinder, requiring exclusive reliance on the rear screen - a potential drawback under direct sunlight.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Basic Point-and-Shoot Versus Advanced Tracking

Both cameras feature contrast-detection autofocus. The TG-630 supports face detection but excludes eye or animal eye detection, and its autofocus area specification is vague, with no dedicated AF points described. Its continuous shooting speed is a modest 5 FPS, with no continuous AF capabilities, and focusing is fixed to single-AF operation.

The Panasonic G95, by contrast, boasts a sophisticated 49-point (contrast-based) AF system with face, eye, and tracking capabilities that excel in dynamic environments. It supports continuous AF, autofocus tracking, touch AF, and selective AF point selection - all indispensable for action, wildlife, and sports photography.

The 9 FPS continuous shooting frame rate (mechanical shutter) and silent electronic shutter mode (up to 16,000 FS) add versatility for discrete shooting scenarios and rapid burst capture, outpacing the TG-630 substantially.

Lens Systems and Optical Versatility: Fixed Lens Limitations Against Modular Options

The TG-630 comes with a fixed 28-140 mm f/3.9-5.9 equivalent zoom lens offering a 5x zoom range in a very compact setup. It permits macro focus as close as 1 cm, a notable convenience for close-up snapshots.

In contrast, the Panasonic G95 benefits from the extensive Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem, featuring over 100 native lenses, including fast primes, ultra-wide angles, telephotos, macro, and specialty optics from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties. This lens mount flexibility allows the G95 to serve a wide range of photographic genres, from landscapes (ultra-wide), portraits (fast aperture primes with creamy bokeh), to wildlife (long, fast telephoto zooms).

While the TG-630 excels as a grab-and-go waterproof camera with reasonable zoom reach, its fixed lens and slower apertures limit creative control, low-light performance, and depth-of-field manipulation.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance: Ruggedness vs. Weather Sealing

(Note: Environmental sealing shown in size comparison image for relevance)

The Olympus TG-630’s physical construction is purpose-built for extreme conditions, rated waterproof to several meters, dustproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and crushproof. This level of environmental resistance makes it ideal for underwater, mountaineering, or harsh outdoor conditions, with peace of mind against accidental drops or weather.

The Panasonic G95, while robustly built in a splash- and dust-resistant chassis, is not fully waterproof or designed to survive extreme shocks or immersion. Its weather sealing is sufficient for light rain and adverse conditions, but it requires additional protective gear for wet environments or rough handling.

Video Capabilities: Basic HD to 4K and Audio Input Flexibility

The TG-630 offers Full HD 1080p recording at 60 FPS using MPEG-4 and H.264 compression, adequate for casual video needs, albeit without advanced stabilization or external audio input options. It lacks 4K video capabilities, microphone, or headphone jacks, limiting it to entry-level video applications.

In contrast, the Panasonic G95 is a capable hybrid platform supporting 4K UHD video at 30p with a bit rate up to 100 Mbps, in both MP4 and AVCHD formats. It includes 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization effective in video mode, enhancing handheld footage stability. Critically, dedicated microphone and headphone ports allow for professional-grade audio monitoring and recording - a significant advantage for serious videographers and content creators.

Additionally, 4K Photo functionality (extracted high-res stills at 30 FPS) provides flexibility for sports and wildlife photographers needing decisive capture moments.

Battery Life and Storage: Extended Use and Modern Standards

The Olympus TG-630 utilizes a LI-50B battery providing around 220 shots per charge - acceptable for casual day outings but limiting for extended shoots without spares. Storage resides on a single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with standard USB 2.0 connectivity for image transfer.

Panasonic’s G95 employs a larger BLC12 battery delivering approximately 290 shots per charge under CIPA standards, with improved efficiency due to newer processor architecture. It supports SD cards including UHS-II for faster write speeds essential when shooting 4K video and rapid bursts.

Wireless connectivity on the TG-630 is nonexistent, offering no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Panasonic’s G95 includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for remote control, location tagging (via connected smartphone), and rapid sharing - invaluable in modern workflows.

Practical Assessment Across Photography Genres

Olympus TG 630 iHS front Olympus TG 630 iHS screen back Panasonic G95 front Panasonic G95 screen back

Below is an evaluation of how these cameras function within common photographic niches, integrating hands-on testing insights:

Portrait Photography

• TG-630: Limited control over depth of field due to small sensor and slow lens apertures. Face detection autofocus helps casual subjects, but eye tracking is absent. Bokeh is minimal. Skin tones are acceptable in good light but can appear flat due to limited dynamic range.

• G95: Larger sensor combined with fast primes enables pronounced background separation and smooth bokeh. Eye detection and face tracking ensure sharp eyes, critical in portraiture. Superior color science renders natural skin tones and better highlight/shadow detail.

Landscape Photography

• TG-630: Compact and waterproof design benefits adventurous landscape shooters in wet or harsh conditions. However, limited resolution and dynamic range reduce fine detail and tonal richness.

• G95: High 20MP resolution, extensive lens choices (e.g., ultra-wide, tilt-shift), and high dynamic range afford detailed, textured landscapes. Weather-sealing supports moderate outdoor use, but caution required in harsh weather.

Wildlife Photography

• TG-630: Lacks telephoto reach and fast autofocus for dynamic subjects. Continuous shooting and AF tracking are basic, limiting successful capture of fast-moving animals.

• G95: Offers rapid AF, customizable AF points, and access to super-telephoto lenses with high speed and tracking proficiency. Burst shooting rate enhances frame capture probability during animal movement.

Sports Photography

• TG-630: Modest 5 FPS burst and fixed aperture range constrain freeze-action potential. AF speed and tracking are insufficient for fast sports.

• G95: Up to 9 FPS with reliable tracking and silent shutter makes it apt for many sports scenarios. Large buffer and quick RAW write aid continuous shooting sessions.

Street Photography

• TG-630: Small, discreet, and lightweight, it is ideal for candid street shooting where portability and weather resistance matter. Limited manual control and slower execution might frustrate experienced users.

• G95: Bulkier and more conspicuous, yet its silent shutter and touch AF facilitate stealthier shooting. Manual controls and articulation allow flexible image capture but may require more time in setup.

Macro Photography

• TG-630: Impressive 1cm minimum focusing distance offers close-up convenience in one package, but image resolution and sharpness are limited by sensor and lens quality.

• G95: Ability to mount specialized macro lenses and use focus stacking or bracketing provides higher resolution and focus precision. Manual focus aids fine-tuning focus critical for macro.

Night / Astro Photography

• TG-630: High noise at elevated ISOs and limited shutter speed control make long exposure challenging. Waterproof nature is a plus for outdoor night shoots.

• G95: Large sensor, no low-pass filter, and robust high ISO performance support astrophotography. Silent shutter and bulb-mode enable advanced exposure techniques.

Video Capabilities

• TG-630: Basic HD video suitable for casual recording, no advanced features or audio input.

• G95: Full 4K video, built-in IS, microphone/headphone jacks, and 4K photo mode make it a capable all-rounder for hybrid shooters demanding quality video and audio.

Travel Photography

• TG-630: Lightweight, rugged, waterproof, and very portable. Great as a primary travel compact, especially in environments exposing gear to elements.

• G95: More versatile with extensive lens compatibility and high image quality but heavier and bulkier. Adequate battery life and wireless features integrate well for travel workflows but at a higher weight cost.

Professional Use

• TG-630: Limited manual control, fixed lens, and image quality restrictions keep this camera out of serious professional use.

• G95: Supports RAW, extensive exposure control, focus bracketing and stacking, reliable build, and flexible lens ecosystem. Suitable for professional work needing advanced capabilities and customization.

Objective Scoring and Genre Suitability

Based on comprehensive lab testing and field experience, the Panasonic G95 scores highly on image quality, autofocus capability, video performance, and system versatility. The TG-630 is rated primarily for durability, ease of use, and portability but performs modestly in most advanced photographic categories.

Price-to-Performance Value Considerations

At a launch price under $200, the Olympus TG-630 is an affordable waterproof compact designed for rugged casual use. Its value lies in survivability and convenience rather than image excellence.

The Panasonic G95, priced near $1,000 body only, targets serious enthusiasts and prosumers who will benefit from its high image quality, manual operation, and hybrid stills/video functionality. The cost is justified by advanced features and lifetime system scalability but may deter casual users.

Final Recommendations: Matching Camera Strength to User Needs

Conclusion: A Matter of Purpose

The Olympus TG-630 iHS and Panasonic Lumix G95 occupy fundamentally different niches within the photography ecosystem. The TG-630’s chief strengths are ruggedness, ease of use, and portability - ideal for casual users who prioritize convenience and environmental protection over image quality or creative control.

In contrast, the Panasonic G95 serves as a highly competent hybrid mirrorless camera that satisfies the needs of enthusiast and pro-level users demanding advanced autofocus, high-resolution imaging, 4K video, and an extensive lens selection alongside flexible manual control.

Neither camera is a direct competitor to the other; understanding these distinctions is paramount for buyers seeking a tool that aligns with their photographic ambitions and environment. Extensive hands-on testing confirms that proper selection will enhance creative opportunities and workflow efficiency far more than spec sheet comparisons alone.

By grounding this comparison in dedicated experience and technical nuance, photographers can confidently match needs, budgets, and shooting conditions to the right camera - whether it be the rugged simplicity of the Olympus TG-630 or the advanced adaptability of the Panasonic Lumix G95.