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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 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
  • Later Model is Olympus TG-4
Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Superseded the Panasonic TS3
  • Later Model is Panasonic TS5
Photography Glossary

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic TS4, both Waterproof digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and TS4 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was introduced 2 years after the TS4 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the TG-3 matches up versus the TS4 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Panasonic TS4

 TG-3 TS4 
RevealedMarch 2014January 2012Newer by 27 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Olympus TG-3

 TS4 TG-3 

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic TS4

 TG-3 TS4 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-3 has external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Panasonic TS4 has sizing of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic TS4 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the TG-3 vs the TS4.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the TG-3 and TS4 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-3 and TS4.

As you can see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-3 to give you greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more recent TG-3 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography information
37
good MP (16MP)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
21
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography details
Panasonic TS4 Street photography details
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than competitors (247g)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic TS4 Sports photography factors
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
great battery power (330 CIPA)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
38
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery (310 per charge)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic TS4 Travel photography factors
74
great battery power (330 shots)
environment proof
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
66
better than average battery (310 per charge)
environment proofing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography info
Panasonic TS4 Landscape photography info
56
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment proof
great battery power (330 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
41
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
better than average battery (310 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus TG-3
Vlogging with Panasonic TS4
34
quite wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
32
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic socket
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic TS4
 Olympus Tough TG-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FT4
Type Waterproof Waterproof
Released 2014-03-31 2012-01-31
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT-LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247g (0.54 lbs) 197g (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 photographs 310 photographs
Type 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 shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $350 $399