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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 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
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-4
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus TG-3 versus Panasonic FS15, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and FS15 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was released 5 years later than the FS15 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the TG-3 matches up against the FS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Panasonic FS15

 TG-3 FS15 
AnnouncedMarch 2014January 2009Fresher by 64 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus TG-3

 FS15 TG-3 

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic FS15

 TG-3 FS15 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-3 features exterior measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS15 has sizing of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus TG-3 versus Panasonic FS15 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-3 versus the FS15.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and FS15 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The graphic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-3 and FS15.

As you have seen, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-3 to result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern TG-3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Portrait photography camera
37
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
20
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography information
Panasonic FS15 Street photography information
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competition in class (247 grams)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography information
Panasonic FS15 Travel photography information
74
great battery pack (330 per charge)
weather proof
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (247 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography features
56
decently wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
weather proof
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FS15 Vlogging advice
34
decently wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic port
heavier than competition in class (247g)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus Tough TG-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Introduced 2014-03-31 2009-01-16
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 247 gr (0.54 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" 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 330 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $350 $180