Olympus TG-830 iHS vs Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II: A Hands-On, Detailed Comparison From an Experienced Reviewer

Choosing the right camera today can feel like diving into an ocean of specs, acronyms, and marketing jargon. Over my 15+ years testing cameras across genres, I’ve learned that beyond the numbers, the best camera for you depends on your shooting style, use cases, and budget.

In this article, I’m putting two very different but compelling cameras head-to-head: the Olympus TG-830 iHS, a rugged waterproof compact, and the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II, a sophisticated large-sensor superzoom bridge camera. Spoiler alert: these aren’t exactly neck-and-neck competitors, but breaking down their strengths and weaknesses side-by-side reveals who shines where - and for whom each camera is best suited.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and explore everything from sensor tech to ergonomics and real-world performance in portraits, landscapes, wildlife, street, video, and beyond.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: Size, Handling, and Build

At a glance, the Olympus TG-830 iHS and Panasonic FZ1000 II couldn’t be more different beasts. The TG-830 iHS is a compact powerhouse built to endure, while the FZ1000 II is a heftier, DSLR-style bridge camera stuffed with tech.

Olympus TG-830 iHS

Weighing just 214 grams and measuring a neat 109 x 67 x 28 mm, the TG-830 feels like a chunky pocket camera - designed to be tossed into your hiking pack or pool bag without worry. Its environmental sealing is a massive plus: waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof, and dustproof. It’s the kind of camera you can truly take anywhere without babying it.

However, its compact stature means smaller, closely spaced buttons and limited grip. If you have bigger hands or gloves, you might fumble around a tad.

Panasonic FZ1000 II

The FZ1000 II weighs in at 808 grams and spans 136 x 97 x 132 mm - more substantial and definitely requiring a camera strap. It puts ergonomics front and center, with a deep, grippy handhold and generously spaced controls that scream prosumer preferences. This is a camera built for extended sessions with clubs for thumbs.

Sadly, there’s no weather sealing to speak of, so you’ll want to keep it dry and dust-free.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Complicated?

A camera with slick controls and a intuitive interface can dramatically boost your shooting joy. Here’s how these two compare when it comes to top-down design and interfaces.

Olympus TG-830 iHS

The TG-830 keeps it simple - maybe a little too simple for seasoned shooters. The control layout is minimalist, with few dedicated dials or custom buttons. Menus are easy to navigate but lack depth. No manual exposure modes here, so if you like full creative control, you might feel a bit boxed in.

Panasonic FZ1000 II

The FZ1000 II flaunts an SLR-style top plate – complete with standalone dials for shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation, plus a mode dial with manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and more. This makes it a breeze to change settings on the fly. The bright electronic viewfinder and a fully articulating touchscreen on the back make framing and reviewing shots intuitive in varied shooting conditions.

Sensor and Image Quality: How Much Do Pixels Really Matter?

The sensor is the beating heart of any camera, ultimately dictating image quality, low-light performance, and detail retention. Let’s look at the technical specs and how they translate to real-world results.

• Olympus TG-830 iHS: 1/2.3" CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) delivering 16 MP, max ISO 6400, and a sensor area of roughly 28 mm².
• Panasonic FZ1000 II: A much larger 1" BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2 x 8.8 mm) with 20 MP resolution, max ISO 12800 (expandable to 25600), and 116 mm² sensor area.

What This Means Practically

The FZ1000 II’s sensor quadruples the surface area of the TG-830 iHS’s sensor, allowing bigger pixels that gather more light. This results in less noise when shooting in dim conditions, richer dynamic range, and sharper detail - especially noticeable at pixel-peeping or cropping.

The TG-830’s sensor is typical of rugged compacts: fine for snapshots with good light, but don’t expect silky smooth high ISO performance or nuanced tonal depth in shadows and highlights. Even with built-in image stabilization, noise becomes intrusive above ISO 800, constraining creative freedom under tough lighting.

On-Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Framing Your Shot

No viewfinder on the Olympus, but the Panasonic gives you both an EVF and a large articulating screen, catering to different compositions and shooting styles.

Olympus TG-830 iHS

A fixed 3” LCD screen with 460k-dot resolution serves as your window to the world. It’s decent for daylight framing but can struggle under bright sunlight. No touchscreen or articulating angle means you’re stuck with whatever vantage the fixed display allows - limiting creative perspectives or awkward shooting angles.

Panasonic FZ1000 II

This camera offers a fully articulating 3” 1,240k-dot touchscreen + a gorgeous electronic viewfinder (2,360k dots) with 100% coverage. The EVF is a huge asset for shooting in bright conditions and for staying steady by bracing the camera against your face.

Touch controls speed up focus point selection and menu navigation, which is a godsend when you want to keep shooting rather than fiddling around.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Catching the Action

Fast and accurate autofocus combined with reliable burst shooting spell the difference in sports, wildlife, and everyday candid moments.

Olympus TG-830 iHS

This camera uses contrast detection autofocus with face detection - decent but sluggish compared to modern hybrid or phase detection systems. It has limited AF modes and lacks continuous autofocus for video or burst sequences, which limits its capability for action or moving subjects.

Panasonic FZ1000 II

A significant step up, the FZ1000 II employs a 49-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection, continuous AF, touch AF, and tracking modes that perform very well even on erratic subjects. It can shoot up to 12 frames per second, ideal for sports and wildlife enthusiasts chasing the perfect moment.

Lens and Zoom Range: Versatility vs Fixed Toughness

Your zoom range and aperture matter hugely depending on what you shoot. The Olympus TG-830 is a 28-140 mm (5x zoom) f/3.9-5.9 lens, while the FZ1000 II offers a 25-400 mm (16x zoom) f/2.8-4.0 lens.

Olympus TG-830 iHS

This lens covers moderate wide angle to short telephoto - sufficient for travel, landscapes, and casual portraits. The minimum focusing distance is impressively close at 1 cm for true macro shots, a neat plus for nature close-ups or detail work.

Panasonic FZ1000 II

The 25-400 mm equivalent zoom offers a thrilling range from wide angle to serious telephoto - perfect for wildlife, sports, and portraits. The faster aperture (f/2.8-4.0) gives better low light ability and depth-of-field control. The minimum focus distance of 3 cm is respectable, and combined with in-camera focus stacking and bracketing, it facilitates impressive macro and creative close-up work.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Speeds

Stabilization is crucial for sharp images at slow shutter speeds, especially with longer zooms.

• Olympus TG-830 iHS: Sensor-shift image stabilization helps to tame handshake for an otherwise image-stabilized zoom lens. Maximum shutter speed ranges from 4 to 1/2000 sec.
• Panasonic FZ1000 II: Optical image stabilization is well-implemented and more effective on its longer zoom reach. Shutter speeds span from 60 to 1/4000 sec with electronic shutter options up to 1/16000 sec, allowing for creative motion freezing or silky long exposure effects.

In practice, the FZ1000 II’s superior stabilization means cleaner handheld shots at telephoto lengths and in low light.

Durability and Environmental Sealing

If you’re an outdoors enthusiast or prone to messy wet conditions, durability matters.

• The TG-830 iHS is waterproof (up to 10m), freezeproof, crushproof, shockproof, and dustproof - basically a tank. This ruggedness opens incredible possibilities for underwater, hiking, skiing, or desert shooting.
• The FZ1000 II has no weather sealing, so think twice about soggy or dusty shoots without protection.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance can make or break long shooting days.

• TG-830 iHS claims about 300 shots per charge - modest but enough for a weekend adventure.
• FZ1000 II edges it slightly with around 350 shots, aided by an intelligent power-saving EVF and LCD system.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with the FZ1000 II supporting faster UHS-I cards for rapid writing – important for high-res 4K video and burst shooting.

Connectivity: Tethering and Sharing Made Easy?

With instant sharing a must for many, wireless connectivity is no longer optional for casual and professional users alike.

• Olympus TG-830 iHS has no built-in wireless features, forcing you to rely on USB or HDMI connections.
• Panasonic FZ1000 II includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enabling easy remote control via smartphone apps and quick transfer of photos.

This connectivity definitely lifts the FZ1000 II’s practical workflow for photojournalists and travel bloggers.

Video Capabilities: Go Beyond Stills

A quick look at video specs and usability, increasingly pivotal for hybrid shooters.

• TG-830 iHS shoots Full HD 1080p up to 60 fps, which is fine for casual video but lacks manual controls, stabilization options, or external mic support.
• FZ1000 II shoots up to 4K UHD (3840×2160) at 30p with advanced video controls, including 4K photo modes, in-camera stabilization, and a microphone input jack - a versatile setup for serious content creators.

Real-World Shooting Walkthroughs by Photography Type

Now let’s put these cameras through practical paces across photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• Olympus TG-830: Decent skin tone rendition thanks to Olympus color science. The lens struggles with bokeh due to limited aperture and sensor size; background blur is noticeable but flat. Face detection autofocus helps but no eye AF.
• Panasonic FZ1000 II: Better background separation from larger sensor and bright lens. Face and eye-detection autofocus works reliably, critical for sharp portraits. Wide ISO range allows fun indoor or low-light portraiture.

Landscape Photography

• TG-830: Sensor limits dynamic range and detail at base ISO, though rugged build wins here. Great for misty mountains or beaches where weatherproofing is crucial.
• FZ1000 II: Outstanding landscape tool with superior resolution, dynamic range, and articulating screen. No weather sealing, so you’ll need extra care.

Wildlife Photography

• TG-830: Short zoom and sluggish AF make wildlife shots a pain. Macro capability is handy for insects but distant subjects an issue.
• FZ1000 II: 16x zoom and snappy AF tracking perfect for chasing birds and animals. Burst mode helps nab decisive moments.

Sports Photography

• TG-830: Not built for fast action; no continuous AF or high burst rates.
• FZ1000 II: 12 fps burst and decent autofocus locking help cover amateur sports quite efficiently.

Street Photography

• TG-830: Small size and inconspicuous look plus weather toughness make it a stealthy street shooter.
• FZ1000 II: Bulkier and more conspicuous but touchscreen and EVF make fast candid compositions easier.

Macro Photography

• TG-830: Closest focusing distance of 1 cm is impressive for a compact; great for close-up nature snaps.
• FZ1000 II: Close focus is a little farther (3 cm), but combined with focus stacking and manual focus bracketing, it offers creative macro options.

Night and Astro Photography

• TG-830: ISO noise and sensor size limit low-light utility; shutter speed maxes out at 1/2000s, slowest 4s, no bulb.
• FZ1000 II: High ISO range and long shutter exposures plus manual modes make astrophotography feasible (with tripod).

Video Use

• TG-830: Serviceable Full HD with stabilization but no external mic jack limits professional use.
• FZ1000 II: 4K recording, microphone input, electronic stabilization, and 4K photo modes make it a video workhorse for vloggers.

Travel Photography

• TG-830: Durability, waterproofing, and pocketable size appeal to adventure travelers.
• FZ1000 II: Lens versatility, image quality, and controls favor photo-focused travelers who prioritize quality over bulk.

Professional Workflows

• TG-830: No RAW support and limited manual control restrict professional integration.
• FZ1000 II: RAW capture enhances post-processing latitude; full manual modes and connectivity slots it well into prosumer workflows.

Above, you can see a quick gallery showing side-by-side samples illustrating differences in sharpness, dynamic range, and blur characteristics at various focal lengths.

Technical Score Summary

While these two cameras target very different markets, here’s a compact overall performance snapshot based on hands-on testing and trusted scoring metrics.

The Panasonic FZ1000 II leads in image quality, autofocus, video, and versatility. The Olympus TG-830 shines in durability and portability.

Genre-Specific Ratings

Breaking the scores down by photography disciplines...

Notice the big gaps in fast-action, low-light, and video categories, where sensor capability and lens quality make a decisive difference.

Final Pros and Cons

Olympus TG-830 iHS

Pros:

• Superb ruggedness and waterproofing
• Compact and lightweight
• Close macro focusing (1 cm)
• Built-in GPS for geotagging
• Easy user interface for beginners

Cons:

• Small sensor limits image quality and ISO performance
• No RAW support
• Limited manual controls and slow AF
• Fixed screen with low resolution
• No wireless or audio support

Panasonic FZ1000 II

Pros:

• Large 1” sensor and 20 MP resolution with RAW support
• Fast 16x zoom f/2.8-4 lens
• Excellent autofocus with continuous tracking
• 4K video with microphone input
• Fully articulating touchscreen and high-res EVF
• Manual controls for pro-level shooting
• Wireless connectivity and focus bracketing

Cons:

• Heavier and bulkier - not pocketable
• No environmental sealing
• Higher price point

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Olympus TG-830 iHS if:

• You want a rugged, do-anything camera for adventures, water sports, beach, or rough environments.
• You prefer a lightweight, compact size that fits any pocket.
• Your photography is casual or travel-based and you don’t need advanced manual control or RAW.
• You value durability over image quality.

Buy the Panasonic FZ1000 II if:

• You want a versatile all-in-one camera with high image quality for landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and sports.
• You require manual exposure controls and RAW capture for post-production flexibility.
• You shoot video seriously, needing 4K, stabilization, and mic input.
• You prioritize fast autofocus and longer zoom reach.
• You don’t mind carrying a larger camera and want more creative control.

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras, Very Different Paths

The Olympus TG-830 iHS and Panasonic FZ1000 II underscore how diverse photography needs can be. While the TG-830 is a specialized outdoor companion capable of withstanding harsh conditions and delivering decent snapshots, its small sensor and limited controls keep it in the entry-level compact bracket.

The FZ1000 II is more a crossover for photographer-enthusiasts seeking quality, from landscapes to wildlife, with enough manual control and video features to serve as a serious secondary or even travel camera.

My longtime practice of extensive shooting, pixel-level analysis, and real-world use indicates that despite the price difference (the TG-830 being typically much cheaper and bundled with durability) the Panasonic offers far better bang-for-buck if you care about image quality and versatility and can handle the extra size.

At the end of the day, your choice boils down to lifestyle needs, budget, and what kind of photography lights your fire.

I hope this in-depth comparison helps guide your next camera purchase with confidence. Feel free to ask questions or share your shooting scenarios - helping fellow photographers pick their gear is one of my favorite parts of this work!