Olympus TG-4 vs Panasonic TZ200

The Olympus Tough TG-4 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 (labelled Panasonic ZS200 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in April 2015 and February 2018. Both the TG-4 and the TZ200 are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (TG-4) and an one-inch (TZ200) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 20 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		Panasonic TZ200
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
25-100mm f/2.0-4.9		24-360mm f/3.3-6.4
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		20 MP – 1" sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Electronic viewfinder (2330k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots		3.0" LCD – 1240k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
Waterproof body (15m)		not weather sealed
380 shots per battery charge		370 shots per battery charge
112 x 66 x 31 mm, 247 g		111 x 65 x 45 mm, 340 g

Check TG-4 offers at
ebay.com
Check TZ200 price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Tough TG-4 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus TG-4 and the Panasonic TZ200 is provided in the side-by-side display below. 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 width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The TG-4 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the TZ200 is also available in two color-versions, but different ones (black, silver).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic TZ200 is somewhat smaller (2 percent) than the Olympus TG-4. However, the TZ200 is substantially heavier (38 percent) than the TG-4. It is worth mentioning in this context that the TG-4 is splash and dust resistant, while the TZ200 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.

Concerning battery life, the TG-4 gets 380 shots out of its Olympus LI-92B battery, while the TZ200 can take 370 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLG10 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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.		Panasonic TZ200	111 mm	65 mm	45 mm	340 g	370	n	Feb 2018	799	amazon.com
3.		Canon SX700	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	250	n	Feb 2014	349	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP140	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Feb 2019	229	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Jan 2018	229	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP120	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	203 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	229	ebay.com
7.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	389	ebay.com
8.		Olympus TG-6	113 mm	66 mm	32 mm	253 g	340	Y	May 2019	449	ebay.com
9.		Olympus TG-5	113 mm	66 mm	32 mm	250 g	340	Y	May 2017	449	ebay.com
10.		OM System TG-7	114 mm	66 mm	33 mm	249 g	330	Y	Sep 2023	549	amazon.com
11.		Panasonic GX9	124 mm	72 mm	47 mm	407 g	260	n	Feb 2018	849	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic TZ90	112 mm	67 mm	41 mm	322 g	380	n	Apr 2017	449	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic LX15	106 mm	60 mm	42 mm	310 g	260	n	Sep 2016	699	amazon.com
14.		Panasonic TZ100	111 mm	65 mm	44 mm	312 g	300	n	Jan 2016	699	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic FZ1000	137 mm	99 mm	131 mm	831 g	360	n	Jun 2014	899	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

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The TG-4 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 53 percent) than the TZ200, 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.

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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to 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 Panasonic TZ200 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the TZ200 is 314 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.7. The sensor in the TG-4 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the TZ200 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 20MP, the TZ200 offers a higher resolution than the TG-4 (15.9MP), but the TZ200 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 1.33μm for the TG-4) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the TZ200 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 10 months) than the TG-4, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic TZ200 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the TZ200 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus TG-4 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 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 Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the TG-4 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the TZ200 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.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar 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.		Panasonic TZ200	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.0	12.2	449	64
3.		Canon SX700	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.1	11.4	629	45
4.		Fujifilm XP140	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/15p	20.7	12.2	1102	52
5.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.1	1000	51
6.		Fujifilm XP120	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	900	49
7.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.5	12.0	938	50
8.		Olympus TG-6	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.7	12.2	1127	52
9.		Olympus TG-5	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.5	11.9	934	50
10.		OM System TG-7	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	20.9	12.7	1553	54
11.		Panasonic GX9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.1	12.8	1163	74
12.		Panasonic TZ90	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	19.1	10.6	106	36
13.		Panasonic LX15	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.9	12.0	315	62
14.		Panasonic TZ100	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.5	559	70
15.		Panasonic FZ1000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	11.7	517	64
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 also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the TZ200 provides a better video resolution than the TG-4. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the TZ200 has an electronic viewfinder (2330k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the TG-4 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus TG-4 and Panasonic TZ200 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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.		Panasonic TZ200	2330	n	3.0 / 1240	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX700	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	8.5/s	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm XP140	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 XP120	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 TG-6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Olympus TG-5	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
10.		OM System TG-7	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Panasonic GX9	2760	n	3.0 / 1240	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Panasonic TZ90	1166	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Panasonic LX15	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Panasonic TZ100	1166	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Panasonic FZ1000	2359	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0/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 TZ200 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 reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the TZ200 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Olympus TG-4 and the Panasonic TZ200 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 TZ200 have zoom lenses built in. The TG-4 has a 25-100mm f/2.0-4.9 optic and the TZ200 offers a 24-360mm f/3.3-6.4 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Panasonic provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Olympus. The TG-4 offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the TG-4 and the TZ200 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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 Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 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.		Panasonic TZ200	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon SX700	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Fujifilm XP140	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Fujifilm XP120	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Nikon W300	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
8.		Olympus TG-6	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Olympus TG-5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		OM System TG-7	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Panasonic GX9	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
12.		Panasonic TZ90	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Panasonic LX15	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Panasonic TZ100	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Panasonic FZ1000	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony HX80	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony HX90V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

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.

The TZ200 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the TG-4 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the TG-4 was succeeded by the Olympus TG-5. Further information on the features and operation of the TG-4 and TZ200 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus TG-4 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic TZ200 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Olympus TG-4 better than the Panasonic TZ200 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Olympus Tough TG-4:

• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/2.0 vs f/3.3).
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 93g or 27 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• 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.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (53 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in April 2015).

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 14%.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1240k vs 460k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 10 months of technical progress since the TG-4 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the TZ200 is the clear winner of the contest (15 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports 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 Panasonic TZ200 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the TG-4 or the TZ200. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.		Panasonic TZ200	..	+ +	4.5/5	81/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	799	amazon.com
3.		Canon SX700	..	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	349	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP140	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	229	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	229	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm XP120	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2017	229	ebay.com
7.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	389	ebay.com
8.		Olympus TG-6	4/5	+ +	4.5/5	76/100	4/5	4/5	May 2019	449	ebay.com
9.		Olympus TG-5	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	449	ebay.com
10.		OM System TG-7	4/5	..	4.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	Sep 2023	549	amazon.com
11.		Panasonic GX9	4/5	+	4/5	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	849	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic TZ90	..	+ +	4/5	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	449	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic LX15	..	+ +	4/5	81/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	699	amazon.com
14.		Panasonic TZ100	4.5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	699	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic FZ1000	4/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	899	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 assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Check TG-4 offers at
ebay.com
Check TZ200 price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~

Check TG-4 offers at
ebay.com
Check TZ200 price at
amazon.com

Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.