• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Olympus TG-2 advantages over Panasonic GX9

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 350 vs 260 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    29 mm vs 46 mm
    Thinner
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Panasonic GX9 advantages over Olympus TG-2

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.34 vs 1.55 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Newer
    6 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1240k vs 610k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.14 vs 0.22 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.3 vs 12.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.2 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    140 vs 25 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic GX9

Review Excerpt

  • Fast f/2 lens at wide angle; Decent image quality for its class; Excellent waterproof and rugged specs; Solid feature set, including the cool Microscopic Macro function for super closeups; Aperture priority mode; Peppy performance and good battery life; Accepts conversion lenses.

  • Tendency to underexpose shots in Auto mode; Aggressive noise reduction smudges fine detail; Poor video quality with lots of artifacts; No built-in Wi-Fi.

  • Great image quality; Good high ISO performance for its class; Improved JPEG processing; Fast autofocus; Fast ~9fps burst mode.

  • Smallish field-sequential EVF; Below average battery life; No mic/headphone jacks; Noticeable crop on 4K video.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus TG-1

Olympus TG-2
Olympus TG-1
  • $383
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in GPS
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoots 60p video
Panasonic GX9
Olympus TG-1
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Olympus TG-3

Olympus TG-2
Olympus TG-3
  • $383
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • More dots on screen
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • More pixels
Panasonic GX9
Olympus TG-3
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Built-in GPS

Compared to Olympus TG-4

Olympus TG-2
Olympus TG-4
  • $383
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • More dots on screen
  • $379
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • RAW file ability
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Panasonic GX9
Olympus TG-4
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $379
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Olympus TG-2
Panasonic GX85
  • $383
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Built-in GPS
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Panasonic GX9
Panasonic GX85
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Olympus E-M10 III

Olympus TG-2
Olympus E-M10 III
  • $383
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $549
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Panasonic GX9
Olympus E-M10 III
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • $549
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Lighter weight
Compare Other Cameras?