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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 Key Specs

Olympus TG-4
(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 April 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-3
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-5
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and FS15 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The TG-4 was brought out 6 years after the FS15 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the TG-4 matches up versus the FS15 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Panasonic FS15

 TG-4 FS15 
RevealedApril 2015January 2009More modern by 76 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus TG-4

 FS15 TG-4 

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic FS15

 TG-4 FS15 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-4 features external dimensions 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 FS15 has sizing of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the TG-4 compared to the FS15.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the TG-4 and FS15 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The pic here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-4 and FS15.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus TG-4 to render extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent TG-4 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography info
47
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
20
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus TG-4
Street photography with Panasonic FS15
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (247g)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FS15 Sports photography highlights
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
good battery (380 CIPA)
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
74
good battery (380 shots)
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition (247g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
62
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
good battery (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Vlogging camera
34
really wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have mic socket
heavier than competition (247 grams)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus Tough TG-4Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Introduced 2015-04-13 2009-01-16
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 25 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Maximum 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" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) -
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
AE 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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247g (0.54 lb) 136g (0.30 lb)
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 380 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $379 $180