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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic S2, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the TG-3 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is relatively similar and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was released 2 years later than the S2 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the TG-3 grades against the S2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Panasonic S2

 TG-3 S2 
LaunchedMarch 2014January 2012More recent by 28 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus TG-3

 S2 TG-3 

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic S2

 TG-3 S2 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-3 has exterior measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic S2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-3 against the S2.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and S2 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing technical specs. The graphic here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the TG-3 and S2.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Olympus TG-3 to offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The newer TG-3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography advice
37
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than average (247 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Sports photography highlights
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (330 shots)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
great battery (280 shots)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography details
Panasonic S2 Travel photography details
74
better than average battery pack (330 per charge)
weather sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
70
great battery (280 per charge)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography details
56
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (330 shots)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
41
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
great battery (280 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic S2 Vlogging highlights
34
relatively wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than average (247 grams)
32
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (112 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus Tough TG-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-03-31 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT-LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE 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 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 grams (0.54 lbs) 112 grams (0.25 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 shots 280 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 launch $350 $109