• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.8 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 75.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 21.00mm - 105.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic LX100 advantages over Olympus TG-860

  • 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
    ~ 3.77 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/1.7 vs f/3.5
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • 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
    11.6 fps vs 7.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    130 vs 7 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

Olympus TG-860 advantages over Panasonic LX100

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • More telephoto lens reach
    105 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Thinner
    27 mm vs 55 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    224g vs 393g
    Lighter weight
  • More pixels
    16.0 vs 12.8 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle lens
    21 mm vs 24 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • 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
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • 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
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • 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
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic LX100

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus TG-860

Review Excerpt

  • Very good image quality; Great performance in most respects; Bright zoom lens with good macro performance; Photographer-friendly body easily fits in a coat pocket or small bag; Roomy, high-res built-in viewfinder; Decent battery life

  • Won't fit in a pants pocket; Relatively low resolution by modern standards; Zoom lens has only a modest telephoto; Soft corners at wide or tele positions; Aperture dial is too easily bumped; Bundled flash is fairly weak

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100 III

Panasonic LX100
Sony RX100 III
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Internal flash
Olympus TG-860
Sony RX100 III
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon G7X

Panasonic LX100
Canon G7X
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $699
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
Olympus TG-860
Canon G7X
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Waterproof
  • $699
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Olympus TG-850

Panasonic LX100
Olympus TG-850
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Tiltable Screen
Olympus TG-860
Olympus TG-850
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Built-in GPS
  • $249
  • 1/2.3 inch

Compared to Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Panasonic LX100
Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
  • $875
  • 4/3
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
Olympus TG-860
Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $875
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon G5X

Panasonic LX100
Canon G5X
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $700
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Olympus TG-860
Canon G5X
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $700
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
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