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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-3
  • New Model is Olympus TG-5
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus TG-4 versus Panasonic SZ8, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the TG-4 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is very close and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The TG-4 was launched 16 months after the SZ8 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the TG-4 grades against the SZ8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Panasonic SZ8

 TG-4 SZ8 
AnnouncedApril 2015January 2014More modern by 16 months
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus TG-4

 SZ8 TG-4 

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic SZ8

 TG-4 SZ8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-4 has physical 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) while the Panasonic SZ8 has proportions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-4 versus Panasonic SZ8 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-4 against the SZ8.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-4 and SZ8 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The picture below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-4 and SZ8.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of files though you will need to take the production date of the cameras into account. The more modern TG-4 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography advice
46
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
35
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography factors
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (159g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Travel photography camera
74
better than average battery (380 per charge)
weather proof
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (247g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
67
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
62
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery (380 per charge)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
42
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery pack (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging highlights
34
relatively wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
more heavy than competition (247g)
32
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than average in class (159g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus Tough TG-4Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-04-13 2014-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine
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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 pounds) 159 grams (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots 200 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $379 $275