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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
91 Imaging
36 Features
42 Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2014
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Panasonic SZ8, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-2 iHS was unveiled 6 months prior to the SZ8 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summation of how the TG-2 iHS scores versus the SZ8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Panasonic SZ8

          

          

            
 TG-2 iHS SZ8 
Screen resolution610k460kClearer screen (+150k dot)
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

          

          

            
 SZ8 TG-2 iHS 
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ8

          

          

            
 TG-2 iHS SZ8 
RevealedJune 2013January 2014Same generation
Manual focus  Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen  Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen  Neither comes with Touch screen
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-2 iHS comes with exterior dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).
Contrast the Olympus TG-2 iHS versus Panasonic SZ8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the TG-2 iHS versus the SZ8.
Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-2 iHS and SZ8 is 91 and 94 respectively.
Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
More often than not, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through specifications. The picture underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-2 iHS and SZ8.
To sum up, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic SZ8 to provide you with greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively.

            Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography advice
27
 features face detection focus
 lack of manual focus
 no manual mode
 can't use external flash
 MP count low (12 megapixels)
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 has no RAW files
35
 MP count good (16 megapixels)
 offers face detection focus
 lack of manual focus
 lack of manual mode
 no external flash support
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison
 Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
 Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
61
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 environment sealing
 no moving screen
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 has no RAW files
63
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors (159g)
 screen does not articulate
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary
Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
40
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features tracking autofocus
 environment sealing
 great battery life (350 per charge)
 max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
 no shutter priority mode
 MP count low (12 megapixels)
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 has no phase detect auto focus
34
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count good (16 megapixels)
 low fps (1.0 fps)
 no shutter priority mode
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 low battery power (200 CIPA)
 lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison
Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography features
68
 great battery life (350 CIPA)
 environment sealing
 flash built-in
 fairly wide (25mm)
 fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
 no Time Lapse mode
 MP count low (12MP)
 display isn't selfie friendly
67
 lighter than competitors (159g)
 MP count good (16 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 fairly wide (24mm)
 long zoom (288mm)
 does not have Timelapse function
 low battery power (200 per charge)
 doesn't have a selfie friendly display
 slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
46
 fairly wide (25mm)
 fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
 screen size is good (3 inches)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 environment sealing
 great battery life (350 per charge)
 lack of manual focus
 cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
 no manual mode
 MP count low (12 megapixels)
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 has no RAW files
 no Time Lapse mode
42
 fairly wide (24mm)
 good sized screen (3 inch)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count good (16MP)
 lack of manual focus
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
 lack of manual mode
 sensor  is small (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
 low battery power (200 CIPA)
 does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus TG-2 iHS Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging details
36
 fairly wide (25mm)
 fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
 has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 features face detection focus
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 no external mic socket
32
 fairly wide (24mm)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 offers face detection focus
 lighter than competitors (159g)
 slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
 doesn't have a selfie friendly display
 low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
 does not have external microphone support
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Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-06-28 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
AF touch    
Continuous AF    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
Center weighted AF    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detect AF    
Contract detect AF    
Phase detect AF    
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 610 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Display tech OLED TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range - 5.20 m
Flash settings - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support    
Headphone support    
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 230 gr (0.51 pounds) 159 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 200 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording    
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $380 $275