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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
Portability
82
Imaging
60
Features
80
Overall
68

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Key Specs

Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Announced June 2013
Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Revealed February 2018
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic GX9, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and GX9 (20MP) and the TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") and GX9 (Four Thirds) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The TG-2 iHS was unveiled 5 years prior to the GX9 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the TG-2 iHS grades against the GX9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Panasonic GX9

 TG-2 iHS GX9 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 GX9 TG-2 iHS 
RevealedFebruary 2018June 2013More modern by 56 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1240k610kClearer screen (+630k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic GX9

 TG-2 iHS GX9 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-2 iHS has got outer dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GX9 has dimensions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic GX9 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-2 iHS and the GX9.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the TG-2 iHS and GX9 is 91 and 82 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The image here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-2 iHS and GX9.

Plainly, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TG-2 iHS having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GX9 will give you extra detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged TG-2 iHS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography factors
27
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
76
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Street photography with Panasonic GX9
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography advice
Panasonic GX9 Sports photography advice
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (350 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
72
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (260 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GX9 Travel photography highlights
68
better than average battery life (350 CIPA)
environment proofing
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
supports bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GX9 Landscape photography advice
46
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
77
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Vlogging features
Panasonic GX9 Vlogging features
36
really wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic GX9
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DC-GX9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
Class Waterproof Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2013-06-28 2018-02-13
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 610 thousand dots 1,240 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,760 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes - Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230g (0.51 lbs) 407g (0.90 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 260 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type - SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $380 $1,000