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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
91
Imaging
37
Features
42
Overall
39
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Revealed June 2013
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The TG-2 iHS was revealed 15 months later than the GF5 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the TG-2 iHS matches up versus the GF5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Panasonic GF5

 TG-2 iHS GF5 
IntroducedJune 2013April 2012Fresher by 15 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 GF5 TG-2 iHS 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen resolution920k610kSharper screen (+310k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic GF5

 TG-2 iHS GF5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-2 iHS offers external dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic GF5 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-2 iHS vs the GF5.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the TG-2 iHS and GF5 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by checking out specs. The graphic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-2 iHS and GF5.

All in all, both cameras posses the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizing. The TG-2 iHS has got the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging. The more modern TG-2 iHS should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography info
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography info
27
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
56
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Street photography with Panasonic GF5
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch focus
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography information
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery pack (350 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
41
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography advice
68
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
environment proofing
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
61
includes touch focus
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
46
pretty wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
great battery pack (350 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
59
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
36
pretty wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
32
touchscreen enabled
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Category Waterproof Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-06-28 2012-04-05
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech OLED TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.30 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lbs) 267 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life 350 photos 360 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $380 $600