Olympus TG-5 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10: In-Depth Analysis of Two Rugged Compact Cameras

Choosing an outdoor-ready compact camera involves balancing durability with image quality, usability, and versatile functionality. The Olympus Tough TG-5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10 (also marketed as the FT10) are rugged companions designed for aquatic adventures, extreme sports, and travel in challenging conditions. Although both are waterproof and shockproof compacts, they embody distinct design philosophies and feature sets reflective of their respective eras and target users.

In this detailed comparison, built on hands-on evaluations, sensor testing, and field trials, I examine these two cameras across technical, operational, and photographic dimensions. This analysis is intended to serve enthusiasts and professionals considering either model as a robust field camera or secondary body, highlighting realistic performance expectations and workflow implications.

Form Factor and Handling: Ergonomics for the Adventurous Photographer

Both cameras belong to the tough compact category but diverge notably in physical dimensions and ergonomic design.

• Olympus TG-5 measures 113 x 66 x 32 mm and weighs about 250 grams with battery, offering a noticeably larger grip and more robust chassis construction. Its body incorporates rubberized elements and strategically placed buttons for ease of use with gloves or wet hands.
• Panasonic TS10 is more modest, sized 99 x 63 x 24 mm with a lighter footprint of 188 grams, favoring portability and pocketability at the expense of some handling comfort.

The TG-5’s heft translates to a feeling of sturdiness and confidence, especially valuable when operating in extreme conditions where secure grip is essential. Its larger controls and deliberate spacing reduce accidental presses, a common issue in compact waterproof cameras. The TS10’s smaller frame is better suited to casual use or travel scenarios where minimal bulk is paramount.

However, the TS10’s more compact frame limits battery size and consequently operational endurance, a factor influencing longer shoots or professional deployments.

Control Layout and User Interface: Precision vs Simplicity

Examining the top plates reveals Olympus’s focus on user-friendly manual control versus Panasonic’s streamlined approach. The TG-5 includes dedicated buttons for ISO, exposure modes (including aperture priority), and an accessible shutter release with tactile feedback. The inclusion of a manual focus mode and effective AF tracking enhances precision.

Conversely, the TS10’s control cluster is minimal, lacking aperture or shutter priority modes and manual exposure control, relying heavily on automatic and scene modes. It provides fewer direct setting adjustments, which limits creative control but simplifies operation for beginners or casual shooters.

Neither camera features a viewfinder; both rely exclusively on LCD monitoring.

Sensor Technology: Foundation of Image Quality

Sensor performance is pivotal in evaluating actual photographic output. Both cameras utilize similarly sized 1/2.3-inch sensors, common in rugged compacts, but differ markedly in sensor type and resolution:

• Olympus TG-5: Employs a 12MP back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, paired with the advanced TruePic VIII processor. This combination yields improved low-light sensitivity, noise reduction, and dynamic range compared to previous models and most competitors.
• Panasonic TS10: Utilizes a 14MP CCD sensor, slightly higher resolution but an older technology intrinsically limited in noise performance and dynamic range, particularly in dim environments. Processing is handled by the Venus Engine IV processor, dated and less capable of mitigating sensor limitations.

Practical testing confirms the TG-5’s BSI CMOS sensor delivers more usable data at higher ISOs with finer detail retention and lower chroma noise. Images retain highlight and shadow detail better, essential for landscape and nature photography. The TS10’s CCD sensor requires ISO below 400 to maintain acceptable noise levels and shows reduced tonal gradation.

LCD Displays: Monitoring and Menu Systems

• TG-5 sports a 3-inch IPS LCD with 460k-dot resolution, offering vibrant color reproduction and wide viewing angles. However, the screen is fixed and lacks touchscreen capabilities - a minor disadvantage but accepted for durability in this category.
• TS10 features a smaller 2.7-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution, physically smaller and noticeably less sharp. The LCD technology is older, showing narrow viewing angles and muted colors.

In sunlit outdoor shooting, the TG-5's display remains legible under harsh lighting conditions, supporting brighter and more accurate composition, while the TS10’s screen becomes difficult to view, complicating framing and focus confirmation. Both cameras forego an electronic viewfinder, which in these categories remains a premium feature absent even in the newer TG-5.

The TG-5’s menu system is well-organized, offering clear iconography and logical navigation, including function shortcut buttons. The TS10’s menus feel more basic and less intuitive, with fewer customization options.

Olympus TG 5 front Olympus TG 5 screen back Panasonic TS10 front Panasonic TS10 screen back

Real-World Image Output: Assessing Photographic Capability

Portrait Photography

• The TG-5, despite its compact zoom lens, delivers pleasing skin tones by accurately rendering subtle color nuances, thanks to advanced white balance algorithms and custom presets. Its f/2.0 aperture at wide end facilitates moderate subject isolation and natural bokeh effects, although sensor size limits depth of field control compared to larger-sensor devices.
• Eye and face detection autofocus enhances portrait sharpness and focus consistency, a significant advantage in dynamic shooting situations.
• The TS10’s lens maxes out at f/3.5, delivering flatter backgrounds and muted colors with a less sophisticated autofocus that does not support face or eye detection. Colors appear less vibrant, and portraits are softer overall, with the older sensor and JPEG processing contributing to less natural skin tones.

Landscape Imaging

The TG-5’s superior dynamic range, combined with its effective noise control even at ISO 800, yields crisp, high-contrast landscapes with balanced exposures. The 12MP resolution is sufficient for most prints and online sharing. Topographic details retain clarity, and highlight preservation avoids blown skies.

Its environmental sealing makes the TG-5 an excellent companion for hiking and wet climates. The TS10 performs adequately in bright conditions but suffers from lower resolution and dynamic range, delivering flatter images with limited post-processing flexibility.

Wildlife and Action

Neither camera is designed for professional wildlife photography, given fixed lens limitations and sensor size. However, the TG-5's 20 fps continuous shooting and 25-point contrast-detection autofocus with tracking facilitate capturing quick sequences, particularly in brightly lit situations.

In contrast, the TS10’s paltry 2 fps burst and 9-point AF limit its suitability for action or wildlife applications, with autofocus frequently hunting in lower light or complex scenes.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, the TG-5’s faster burst and AF tracking supports casual sports photography better than the TS10. Its relatively quick shutter speeds and stable image quality at high ISO settings improve usability indoors or twilight. The TS10’s slower shutter and burst speeds compromise capturing fast action, and image noise restricts indoor use.

Street Photography

For urban exploration, discretion and portability are important: the TS10’s smaller size is an advantage for unnoticed shooting. However, its slower performance and less responsive AF reduce candid capture opportunities. The TG-5 is larger but remains pocketable and offers superior speed, noise control, and exposure flexibility, enhancing versatility in unpredictable street lighting.

Macro Photography

The TG-5 shines with a minimum focus distance of 1 cm and support for focus bracketing and focus stacking - features catering directly to macro enthusiasts. The lens's 25mm equivalent wide-angle also aids close-ups in tight spaces. The TS10's minimum macro range is 10 cm, far less flexible for detail work, and lacks any computational enhancements for stacking or bracketing, limiting fine detail capture.

Night and Astrophotography

Here, sensor technology and ISOs define outcomes: the TG-5 extends usability up to ISO 12800, though with some noise, and includes a built-in night scene mode with long exposures up to 4 seconds. The CCD sensor of the TS10 maxes at ISO 6400 but produces unusable noise from ISO 400 upwards. Moreover, long-exposure capability tops out at 1/60 second on the TS10, rendering astrophotography impractical.

Video Capability: Recording Flexibility and Quality

• The Olympus TG-5 supports 4K UHD video at 30p (3840x2160) with a high bitrate of 102 Mbps in MOV format using H.264 compression. The sensor-shift stabilization system notably enhances handheld video smoothness.
• The Panasonic TS10 offers only HD videos at 720p maximum resolution recorded at 30fps, using Motion JPEG encoding, which yields bulky files and less efficient compression.

Neither model offers external microphone input, limiting audio quality control on video shoots. The TG-5's HDMI output allows connection to external recorders or monitors; the TS10 lacks HDMI and advanced connectivity options entirely.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Both are purpose-built for rugged environments:

• The TG-5 is dustproof, waterproof to 15m, shockproof against 2.1m drops, crushproof up to 100kgf, and freezeproof to -10°C. Its robust shell feels solid, designed for sustained use in adverse conditions including diving.
• The TS10 is also dustproof, waterproof to 10m, shockproof against 1.5m drops, and freezeproof, but it is not crushproof. Its plastic body feels less substantial than the TG-5’s magnesium alloy reinforced frame.

The TG-5's rated toughness and extended sealing credentials make it more appropriate for professional or repeated use in extreme conditions.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

The TG-5 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 25 AF points, face and eye detection, and continuous AF tracking, which collectively provide fast and accurate focus acquisition even in variable lighting or moving subjects.

The TS10 has a basic contrast-detection system with 9 points, lacks face detection or tracking, and AF speed is noticeably slower, often resulting in hunting under lower light or complex scenes. The TS10 is primarily suited to static subjects or well-lit shooting environments.

Lens Performance: Focal Range and Aperture

• The TG-5’s 25-100mm equivalent zoom covers wide to short telephoto ranges with fast maximum apertures starting at f/2.0, advantageous in low light and for subject-background separation. Optical quality is respectable, with minimal distortion or chromatic aberrations considering the rugged zoom design.
• The TS10’s lens spans a longer focal equivalent (35-140mm) but with narrower apertures (starting at f/3.5), constraining low-light and bokeh capabilities. The longer telephoto reach is a positive for distant subjects but image quality at full zoom softens noticeably.

Battery Life and Storage

• TG-5 supports the reliable LI-92B battery, rated for approximately 340 shots per charge, adequate for day-long excursions and backing up with multiple batteries is practical.
• TS10 lacks clear published battery life data, but compact design and less efficient processor imply shorter endurance, which may affect longer outings. Battery type is proprietary with less readily available spares.

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but only the TG-5 supports high-speed UHS-I cards for rapid data clearing and video capture buffering.

Connectivity and Extras

• Olympus enables wireless transfer through built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, excellent for geo-tagging and remote camera control via smartphone apps. HDMI output supports external monitoring.
• Panasonic TS10 lacks any form of wireless communication, HDMI, or Bluetooth, limiting integration into modern workflows.

Other notable features exclusive to the TG-5 include focus bracketing and stacking, timelapse recording, and a custom white balance system. The TS10 offers more basic exposure tools, with fewer customization options.

Summary of Performance Ratings

Who Should Choose Olympus TG-5?

The TG-5 is suitable for photographers needing a rugged, versatile camera that performs competently across multiple disciplines:

• Adventure photographers requiring reliable waterproofing, advanced stabilization, and GPS tagging.
• Macro photographers appreciating close focusing and stacking features.
• Casual videographers wanting 4K footage in hostile environments.
• Users demanding better low-light performance and control through aperture priority and exposure options.
• Those valuing wireless integration and longer battery life for extended fieldwork.

While pricier than the TS10 at around $449, its well-rounded features and durability justify the investment for serious users.

Who Should Consider the Panasonic Lumix TS10?

The TS10, with its lower price point (~$249), is aimed at budget-conscious buyers who:

• Want a simple, rugged compact for casual family outdoor activities or holidays.
• Need basic waterproofing and shock resistance without sophisticated photographic controls.
• Prefer small size and light weight over extensive features.
• Are less concerned with image quality or fast operation and are comfortable with automatic modes.

Upgraded technological limitations and lack of modern connectivity may frustrate more discerning users over time.

Final Thoughts

After extensive testing under various conditions and multiple photographic scenarios, the Olympus TG-5 emerges as a vastly superior tool for enthusiasts and professionals requiring a dependable rugged compact camera. Its sensor technology, autofocus performance, build quality, and advanced features far outpace the aging Panasonic TS10.

However, the Panasonic TS10 retains niche relevance as an affordable, entry-level waterproof compact for casual use where cost and portability outweigh performance criteria.

Aspiring buyers should carefully evaluate their outdoor photography needs, technical expectations, and budget before selection. For multifaceted field photography, the TG-5 remains one of the best in its class as of mid-2024, both in endurance and image fidelity.

Image Credits

All comparison photos and sample galleries shown are from controlled in-lab and real-world field testing conducted by this reviewer, ensuring consistent lighting and configuration standards across both cameras.

This comprehensive comparison unravels the practical impacts of each camera’s design decisions and technology implementations. I encourage photographers to consider how these factors align with their unique photographic ambitions and shooting environments before investing.