Clicky

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 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 ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ7
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS3, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is relatively comparable and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The TG-2 iHS was brought out 4 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the TG-2 iHS matches up versus the ZS3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Panasonic ZS3

 TG-2 iHS ZS3 
LaunchedJune 2013May 2009More modern by 51 months
Screen resolution610k460kCrisper screen (+150k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 ZS3 TG-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS3

 TG-2 iHS ZS3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-2 iHS comes with outside dimensions of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS3 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 that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-2 iHS compared to the ZS3.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-2 iHS and ZS3 is 91 and 91 respectively.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by checking out specifications. The picture here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-2 iHS and ZS3.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus TG-2 iHS to show extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent TG-2 iHS provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography details
27
has face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Street photography information
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography information
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-2 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
environment proof
good battery (350 shots)
low fps (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
68
good battery (350 shots)
environment proof
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
63
lighter than competition in class (229g)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography details
46
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
good battery (350 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
35
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-2 iHS Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging info
36
quite wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
30
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus TG-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus Tough TG-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-06-28 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
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 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 610 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology OLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230g (0.51 pounds) 229g (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type - SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $380 $200