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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 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
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Newer Model is Olympus TG-4
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic LZ20, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was revealed 21 months later than the LZ20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the TG-3 grades versus the LZ20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Panasonic LZ20

 TG-3 LZ20 
IntroducedMarch 2014July 2012More recent by 21 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus TG-3

 LZ20 TG-3 

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic LZ20

 TG-3 LZ20 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-3 features exterior measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ20 has specifications of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic LZ20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the TG-3 vs the LZ20.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and LZ20 is 90 and 71 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and LZ20.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of files although you should really take the age of the cameras into account. The more recent TG-3 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography features
37
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
36
MP count good (16MP)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-3
Street photography with Panasonic LZ20
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography advice
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
great battery power (330 CIPA)
low fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (380 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography advice
74
great battery power (330 CIPA)
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
58
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (525mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (499g)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Landscape photography camera
56
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
great battery power (330 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
45
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging information
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging information
34
quite wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
25
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (499g)
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus Tough TG-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Tough TG-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-03-31 2012-07-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT-LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 247 grams (0.54 lbs) 499 grams (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
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 shots 380 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $350 $250