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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus TG-3
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-5
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic ZS3, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-4 was announced 6 years after the ZS3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the TG-4 scores against the ZS3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Panasonic ZS3

 TG-4 ZS3 
AnnouncedApril 2015May 2009More modern by 72 months
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus TG-4

 ZS3 TG-4 

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic ZS3

 TG-4 ZS3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-4 provides outside 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 ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

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Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the TG-4 vs the ZS3.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-4 and ZS3 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing specs. The pic below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-4 and ZS3.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Olympus TG-4 to provide more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher TG-4 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography factors
47
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography details
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than average (247 grams)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Sports photography camera
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
great battery life (380 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS3
74
great battery life (380 CIPA)
weather sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average (247 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than others (229 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography highlights
62
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
great battery life (380 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
35
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic jack
heavier than average (247 grams)
30
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus Tough TG-4Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-04-13 2009-05-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lbs) 229 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" 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 380 photos -
Style 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
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $379 $200