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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 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
  • Introduced June 2013
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Increase to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Panasonic FS42, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is relatively close but the TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") posses different sensor measurements.

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The TG-2 iHS was brought out 4 years later than the FS42 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the TG-2 iHS scores against the FS42 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Panasonic FS42

 TG-2 iHS FS42 
LaunchedJune 2013April 2009Fresher by 52 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution610k230kCrisper screen (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 FS42 TG-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic FS42

 TG-2 iHS FS42 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-2 iHS provides outer measurements of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS42 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Panasonic FS42 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the TG-2 iHS and the FS42.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the TG-2 iHS and FS42 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The visual here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-2 iHS and FS42.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The TG-2 iHS featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus TG-2 iHS will render more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures more aggressively. The younger TG-2 iHS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography advice
27
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
19
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography info
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography info
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
16
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
68
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
weather proofing
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography details
46
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
22
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
36
quite wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no mic socket
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Type Waterproof Ultracompact
Introduced 2013-06-28 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 1000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lb) 132 gr (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media - SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $380 $580