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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
Portability
62
Imaging
60
Features
90
Overall
72

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 Key Specs

Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Released November 2017
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic G9, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the G9 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the TG-3 (1/2.3") and G9 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The TG-3 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the G9 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the TG-3 matches up against the G9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Panasonic G9

 TG-3 G9 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Olympus TG-3

 G9 TG-3 
ReleasedNovember 2017March 2014More recent by 43 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic G9

 TG-3 G9 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-3 has outside dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Panasonic G9 has dimensions of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic G9 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the TG-3 versus the G9.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and G9 is 90 and 62 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-3 and G9.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The TG-3 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic G9 will produce greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older TG-3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic G9 Portrait photography features
37
good MP (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
76
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic G9 as a Street photography camera
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (247g)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography details
Panasonic G9 Sports photography details
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery life (330 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (400 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic G9 Travel photography factors
74
great battery life (330 shots)
environment proofing
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors in class (247 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
70
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
offers touch to focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery pack (400 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic G9 Landscape photography info
56
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery life (330 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
76
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
terrible battery pack (400 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G9 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (247g)
76
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes mic socket
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic G9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic G9
 Olympus Tough TG-3Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
Type Waterproof Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-03-31 2017-11-08
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 225
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.83x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 grams (0.54 lb) 658 grams (1.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6")
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 330 images 400 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots One Two
Launch pricing $350 $1,500