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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Launched March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the TG-3 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The TG-3 was manufactured 22 months later than the ZS15 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the TG-3 grades against the ZS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Panasonic ZS15

 TG-3 ZS15 
RevealedMarch 2014June 2012Fresher by 22 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus TG-3

 ZS15 TG-3 

Common features in the Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic ZS15

 TG-3 ZS15 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-3 has got outside 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) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 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 change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-3 and the ZS15.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-3 and ZS15 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The photograph here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-3 and ZS15.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Olympus TG-3 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern TG-3 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Portrait photography camera
37
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
21
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography highlights
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition (247g)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery pack (330 shots)
slow fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
36
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography features
74
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
environment proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
61
lighter than competitors (208g)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography information
56
quite wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery pack (330 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
37
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging advice
34
quite wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competition (247g)
33
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (208g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus TG-3 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-3 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus Tough TG-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-03-31 2012-06-29
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 grams (0.54 pounds) 208 grams (0.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 260 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $350 $279