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Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
79
Features
62
Overall
72

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 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
  • Launched April 2015
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-3
  • Renewed by Olympus TG-5
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Introduced September 2018
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Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Olympus TG-4 and Zeiss ZX1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Zeiss. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the TG-4 (16MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the TG-4 (1/2.3") and ZX1 (Full frame) have different sensor measurements.

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The TG-4 was released 4 years before the ZX1 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the TG-4 grades vs the ZX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Zeiss ZX1

 TG-4 ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Olympus TG-4

 ZX1 TG-4 
IntroducedSeptember 2018April 2015Newer by 42 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size4.34"3"Bigger screen (+1.34")
Screen resolution2765k460kSharper screen (+2305k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-4 and Zeiss ZX1

 TG-4 ZX1 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus TG-4 enjoys external measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") and a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Zeiss ZX1 has proportions of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Olympus TG-4 and Zeiss ZX1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the TG-4 vs the ZX1.

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TG-4 and ZX1 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by checking technical specs. The image below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the TG-4 and ZX1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The TG-4 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Zeiss ZX1 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 21 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged TG-4 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography details
Zeiss ZX1 Portrait photography details
47
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
87
you can focus manually
MP count excellent (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Street photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors (247 grams)
71
fully articulated screen
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
includes touch focus
great high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others in class (800 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-4 as a Sports photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Sports photography camera
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery (380 shots)
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
64
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count excellent (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
Travel photography with Zeiss ZX1
74
great battery (380 per charge)
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors (247g)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
supports bluetooth
includes touch focus
MP count excellent (37MP)
great maximum aperture (f2)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (800g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography details
Zeiss ZX1 Landscape photography details
62
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
great battery (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
70
you can focus manually
great maximum aperture (f2)
screen larger than average (4.34")
MP count excellent (37 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-4 Vlogging highlights
Zeiss ZX1 Vlogging highlights
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
heavier than competitors (247g)
31
great maximum aperture (f2)
has touchscreen
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic support
heavier than others in class (800 grams)
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Olympus TG-4 vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-4 and Zeiss ZX1
 Olympus Tough TG-4Zeiss ZX1
General Information
Make Olympus Zeiss
Model type Olympus Tough TG-4 Zeiss ZX1
Class Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-04-13 2018-09-27
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 37 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 7488 x 4992
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 25 255
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 35mm (1x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2-22
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 4.34"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 2,765k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 6,221k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.90 m (at ISO 1600) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 247 gr (0.54 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory 512GB internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $379 -