Olympus TG-4 vs XZ-2

The Olympus Tough TG-4 and the Olympus XZ-2 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in April 2015 and September 2012. Both the TG-4 and the XZ-2 are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (TG-4) and a 1/1.7-inch (XZ-2) sensor. The TG-4 has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the XZ-2 provides 11.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Olympus TG-4		Olympus XZ-2
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
25-100mm f/2.0-4.9		28-112mm f/1.8-2.5
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		11.8 MP – 1/1.7" sensor
1080/30p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400		ISO 100-12,800
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Viewfinder optional
3.0" LCD – 460k dots		3.0" LCD – 920k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
Waterproof body (15m)		not weather sealed
380 shots per battery charge		340 shots per battery charge
112 x 66 x 31 mm, 247 g		113 x 65 x 48 mm, 346 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Tough TG-4 and the Olympus XZ-2? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus TG-4 and the Olympus XZ-2. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The TG-4 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the XZ-2 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus TG-4 and the Olympus XZ-2 are of equal size. However, the XZ-2 is substantially heavier (40 percent) than the TG-4. It is worth mentioning in this context that the TG-4 is splash and dust resistant, while the XZ-2 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the TG-4 is water-proof up to 15m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The power pack in the TG-4 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Olympus TG-4	112 mm	66 mm	31 mm	247 g	380	Y	Apr 2015	379	ebay.com
2.		Olympus XZ-2	113 mm	65 mm	48 mm	346 g	340	n	Sep 2012	599	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX700	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	250	n	Feb 2014	349	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP120	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	203 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	229	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Jan 2018	229	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP140	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Feb 2019	229	ebay.com
7.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	389	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-PL2	114 mm	72 mm	42 mm	362 g	280	n	Jan 2011	599	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-PL3	110 mm	64 mm	37 mm	313 g	300	n	Jun 2011	599	ebay.com
10.		Olympus Stylus 1	116 mm	87 mm	57 mm	402 g	410	n	Oct 2013	699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus TG-5	113 mm	66 mm	32 mm	250 g	340	Y	May 2017	449	ebay.com
12.		Olympus TG-6	113 mm	66 mm	32 mm	253 g	340	Y	May 2019	449	ebay.com
13.		Olympus XZ-1	111 mm	65 mm	42 mm	275 g	320	n	Jan 2011	499	ebay.com
14.		OM System TG-7	114 mm	66 mm	33 mm	249 g	330	Y	Sep 2023	549	amazon.com
15.		Pentax MX-1	122 mm	61 mm	51 mm	391 g	290	n	Jan 2013	499	ebay.com
16.		Sony HX80	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	390	n	Mar 2016	349	ebay.com
17.		Sony HX90V	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	360	n	Apr 2015	429	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The TG-4 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 37 percent) than the XZ-2, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus TG-4 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Olympus XZ-2 a 1/1.7-inch sensor. The sensor area in the XZ-2 is 54 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 4.4. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

In terms of chip-set technology, the TG-4 uses a more advanced image processing engine (TruePic VII) than the XZ-2 (TruePic VI), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Olympus TG-4 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 11.8 MP of the Olympus XZ-2. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.33μm versus 1.91μm for the XZ-2). However, it should be noted that the TG-4 is much more recent (by 2 years and 6 months) than the XZ-2, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus TG-4 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the TG-4 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus XZ-2 are 19.8 x 14.9 inches or 50.4 x 37.8 cm for good quality, 15.9 x 11.9 inches or 40.3 x 30.2 cm for very good quality, and 13.2 x 9.9 inches or 33.6 x 25.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus Tough TG-4 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus XZ-2 are ISO 100 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the TG-4 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the XZ-2 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Olympus TG-4	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.2	11.6	737	47
2.		Olympus XZ-2	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.4	11.3	216	49
3.		Canon SX700	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.1	11.4	629	45
4.		Fujifilm XP120	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	900	49
5.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.1	1000	51
6.		Fujifilm XP140	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/15p	20.7	12.2	1102	52
7.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.5	12.0	938	50
8.		Olympus E-PL2	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.4	10.2	573	55
9.		Olympus E-PL3	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	1080/60i	20.9	10.3	499	52
10.		Olympus Stylus 1	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.7	11.6	179	51
11.		Olympus TG-5	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.5	11.9	934	50
12.		Olympus TG-6	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.7	12.2	1127	52
13.		Olympus XZ-1	1/1.7	10.1	3664	2752	720/30p	18.8	10.4	117	34
14.		OM System TG-7	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.9	12.7	1553	54
15.		Pentax MX-1	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/30p	20.4	11.3	208	49
16.		Sony HX80	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.4	11.8	822	48
17.		Sony HX90V	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	738	47
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The TG-4 and the XZ-2 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. That said, the XZ-2 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-2. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus TG-4 and Olympus XZ-2 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Olympus TG-4	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Olympus XZ-2	optional	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX700	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	8.5/s	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm XP120	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm XP130	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Fujifilm XP140	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Nikon W300	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Olympus E-PL2	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Olympus E-PL3	optional	n	3.0 / 460	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.5/s	n	Y
10.		Olympus Stylus 1	1440	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Olympus TG-5	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Olympus TG-6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Olympus XZ-1	optional	n	3.0 / 614	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.0/s	Y	Y
14.		OM System TG-7	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Pentax MX-1	none	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/8000s	1.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony HX80	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony HX90V	638	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The XZ-2 has a touchscreen, while the TG-4 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The Olympus TG-4 and the Olympus XZ-2 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the TG-4 and the XZ-2 have zoom lenses built in. The TG-4 has a 25-100mm f/2.0-4.9 optic and the XZ-2 offers a 28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the TG-4 provides a wider angle of view at the short end than the XZ-2, but less tele-photo reach at the long end. The XZ-2 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the TG-4 and the XZ-2 write their files to SDXC cards. The TG-4 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the XZ-2 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus Tough TG-4 and Olympus XZ-2 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Olympus TG-4	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Olympus XZ-2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon SX700	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Fujifilm XP120	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
5.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Fujifilm XP140	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Nikon W300	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
8.		Olympus E-PL2	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Olympus E-PL3	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Olympus Stylus 1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Olympus TG-5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Olympus TG-6	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Olympus XZ-1	Y	mono / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		OM System TG-7	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Pentax MX-1	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Sony HX80	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony HX90V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the TG-4 offers wifi support, while the XZ-2 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the TG-4 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the TG-4 and the XZ-2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The TG-4 was replaced by the Olympus TG-5, while the XZ-2 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the TG-4 and XZ-2 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus TG-4 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus XZ-2 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Olympus TG-4 better than the Olympus XZ-2 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Olympus Tough TG-4:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (15.9 vs 11.8MP) with a 16% higher linear resolution.
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (TruePic VII vs TruePic VI).
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 99g or 29 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (380 versus 340) on a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 15m).
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (37 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 6 months of technical progress since the XZ-2 launch.

Arguments in favor of the Olympus XZ-2:

• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• More framing options: Can be equipped with a hotshoe-mounted accessory-viewfinder.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 460k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/1.8 vs f/2.0).
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2012).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the TG-4 comes out slightly ahead of the XZ-2 (13 : 12 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus TG-4 and the Olympus XZ-2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the TG-4 or the XZ-2 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Olympus TG-4	..	+	..	79/100	4/5	4/5	Apr 2015	379	ebay.com
2.		Olympus XZ-2	4/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	599	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX700	..	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	349	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP120	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2017	229	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	229	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP140	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	229	ebay.com
7.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	389	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-PL2	3/5	83/100	..	71/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2011	599	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-PL3	3/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2011	599	ebay.com
10.		Olympus Stylus 1	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus TG-5	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	449	ebay.com
12.		Olympus TG-6	4/5	+ +	4.5/5	76/100	4/5	4/5	May 2019	449	ebay.com
13.		Olympus XZ-1	4/5	..	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2011	499	ebay.com
14.		OM System TG-7	4/5	..	4.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	Sep 2023	549	amazon.com
15.		Pentax MX-1	3/5	..	..	74/100	4/5	4/5	Jan 2013	499	ebay.com
16.		Sony HX80	..	..	..	..	..	..	Mar 2016	349	ebay.com
17.		Sony HX90V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	429	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

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