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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 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
  • Released June 2013
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The TG-2 iHS was launched 12 months later than the LZ20 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the TG-2 iHS matches up against the LZ20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Panasonic LZ20

 TG-2 iHS LZ20 
LaunchedJune 2013July 2012Fresher by 12 months
Screen resolution610k460kClearer screen (+150k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 LZ20 TG-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic LZ20

 TG-2 iHS LZ20 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-2 iHS enjoys exterior 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) and the Panasonic LZ20 has proportions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-2 iHS vs the LZ20.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-2 iHS and LZ20 is 91 and 71 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over specs. The visual here should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-2 iHS and LZ20.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic LZ20 to offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-2 iHS provides an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography features
27
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
36
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competition (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography highlights
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery life (350 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
long zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography features
68
great battery life (350 per charge)
weather sealing
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
58
better than average battery (380 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (499g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography advice
46
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
great battery life (350 per charge)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
45
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Vlogging details
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging details
36
relatively wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external mic support
25
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
heavier than competition (499g)
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-06-28 2012-07-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 610k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology OLED TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 6.80 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 lbs) 499 gr (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
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 photographs 380 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $380 $250