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Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
51
Overall
42
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Announced May 2017
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-4
  • New Model is Olympus TG-6
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the TG-5 (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The TG-5 was manufactured 4 years later than the LZ20 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the TG-5 matches up vs the LZ20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Panasonic LZ20

 TG-5 LZ20 
LaunchedMay 2017July 2012Fresher by 59 months
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus TG-5

 LZ20 TG-5 

Common features in the Olympus TG-5 and Panasonic LZ20

 TG-5 LZ20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-5 has exterior dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ20 has dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the TG-5 vs the LZ20.

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the TG-5 and LZ20 is 90 and 71 respectively.

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by looking at specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-5 and LZ20.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic LZ20 to give more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer TG-5 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography info
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography info
39
focusing manually
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
36
good MP (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography highlights
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (250g)
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography advice
46
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
great battery power (340 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery (380 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Travel photography camera
68
great battery power (340 shots)
weather proof
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition in class (250 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
58
good battery (380 per charge)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (525mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (499 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography features
57
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
great battery power (340 CIPA)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
45
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
good battery (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-5 Vlogging information
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging information
34
pretty wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competition in class (250 grams)
25
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (499g)
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Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-5 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus Tough TG-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Tough TG-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2017-05-17 2012-07-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max boosted ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 pounds) 499g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
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 340 shots 380 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $449 $250