Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic GX8

The following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus TG-4 versus Panasonic GX8, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the GX8 (20MP) is very well matched but the TG-4 (1/2.3") and GX8 (Four Thirds) use different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The TG-4 was introduced 3 months prior to the GX8 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the TG-4 grades versus the GX8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Tough TG-4 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus TG-4 Gallery and Panasonic GX8 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-4 enjoys 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) whilst the Panasonic GX8 has dimensions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") and a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-4 versus Panasonic GX8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the TG-4 vs the GX8.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-4 and GX8 is 90 and 74 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-4 and GX8.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TG-4 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic GX8 will resolve extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively.