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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 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 SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Panasonic SZ3, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The TG-2 iHS was manufactured 6 months later than the SZ3 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the TG-2 iHS grades vs the SZ3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Panasonic SZ3

 TG-2 iHS SZ3 
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 SZ3 TG-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ3

 TG-2 iHS SZ3 
AnnouncedJune 2013January 2013Similar generation
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-2 iHS offers physical dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Panasonic SZ3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the TG-2 iHS compared to the SZ3.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-2 iHS and SZ3 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-2 iHS and SZ3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic SZ3 to resolve extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography info
27
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
30
decent MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Street photography features
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
great battery pack (350 per charge)
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography info
68
great battery pack (350 shots)
environment proof
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
46
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
great battery pack (350 shots)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
39
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
36
quite wide (25mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no mic port
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-06-28 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech OLED TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.10 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 250 shots
Battery type 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 recording
Storage type - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $380 $150