Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic SZ7

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus TG-5 versus Panasonic SZ7, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the TG-5 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is very well matched and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The TG-5 was released 5 years later than the SZ7 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the TG-5 matches up vs the SZ7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Tough TG-5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus TG-5 Gallery & Panasonic SZ7 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus TG-5 features external dimensions of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ7 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-5 versus Panasonic SZ7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the TG-5 vs the SZ7.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-5 and SZ7 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by checking specs. The visual here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-5 and SZ7.

All in all, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic SZ7 to give you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer TG-5 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.