Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic FZ1000

The following is a detailed overview of the Olympus TG-5 and Panasonic FZ1000, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and FZ1000 (20MP) and the TG-5 (1/2.3") and FZ1000 (1") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-5 was unveiled 2 years after the FZ1000 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ1000 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the TG-5 scores against the FZ1000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Tough TG-5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000. The full galleries are available at Olympus TG-5 Gallery & Panasonic FZ1000 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus TG-5 enjoys physical dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ1000 has specifications of 137mm x 99mm x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") and a weight of 831 grams (1.83 lbs).

Compare the Olympus TG-5 and Panasonic FZ1000 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the TG-5 compared to the FZ1000.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and FZ1000 is 90 and 55 respectively.

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over specifications. The picture underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-5 and FZ1000.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The TG-5 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FZ1000 will offer more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more recent TG-5 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.