Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic TS6

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic TS6, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and TS6 (16MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and TS6 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the TS6 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the XZ-1 scores vs the TS6 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS6. The entire galleries are available at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Panasonic TS6 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-1 features outside measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Panasonic TS6 has measurements of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic TS6 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the XZ-1 versus the TS6.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-1 and TS6 is 88 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing technical specs. The picture underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-1 and TS6.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-1 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic TS6 will result in greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged XZ-1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.