Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic TS5

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Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic TS5

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
14.0 megapixels
26.00mm - 130.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Olympus VG-160 Review.

1/2.33 inch 28.2mm²
16.1 megapixels
28.00mm - 128.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic TS5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the TS5.

Succeeded by the Panasonic TS6
Compare TS5 vs TS6
Compare Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic TS6

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Differences

Olympus VG-160 advantages over Panasonic TS5

Less expensive
$100 vs $400 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger lens aperture
f/2.8 vs f/3.3
Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
Thinner
19 mm vs 28 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
125g vs 213g
Lighter weight
Bigger JPEG buffer
200 vs 7 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/2000 vs 1/1300 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Panasonic TS5 advantages over Olympus VG-160

Waterproof
Yes vs No
Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

370 vs 165 shots
Capture more photos
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More dots on screen
461k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More pixels
16.1 vs 14.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Longer exposure
30 vs 4 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 0.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 1600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Neither provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Manual focus
Neither provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
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
Hot shoe
Neither provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Neither provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Olympus VG-160

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Buy the Panasonic TS5

Panasonic TS5

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Olympus VG-160.
Read our Olympus VG-160 Preview

Advanced Wi-Fi and Near-Field Communications for easy image sharing and even remote shooting (a first for a waterproof compact); Improved ruggedness; Manual exposure mode; Fast cycle times; 10fps continuous burst shooting at full resolution; Full 1080p HD video at up to 60p; Excellent battery life.
Mediocre still image quality; Slow startup; Slower-than-average autofocus; Choppy MP4 (most Web-friendly format) video quality.
Read our Panasonic TS5 Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSC-W510

Olympus VG-160

Sony DSC-W510

$100
1/2.3 inch

More telephoto lens reach
More pixels

$82
1/2.3 inch

Longer stills battery life
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Olympus VG-160 vs Sony DSC-W510

Panasonic TS5

Sony DSC-W510

$249
1/2.33 inch

Waterproof
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$82
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic TS5 vs Sony DSC-W510

Compared to Canon A3400 IS

Olympus VG-160

Canon A3400 IS

$100
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$93
1/2.3 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer exposure

Compare Olympus VG-160 vs Canon A3400 IS

Panasonic TS5

Canon A3400 IS

$249
1/2.33 inch

Waterproof
In-camera panoramas

$93
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

Compare Panasonic TS5 vs Canon A3400 IS

Compared to Canon A2300

Olympus VG-160

Canon A2300

$100
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$93
1/2.3 inch

Longer stills battery life
Longer exposure

Compare Olympus VG-160 vs Canon A2300

Panasonic TS5

Canon A2300

$249
1/2.33 inch

Waterproof
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$93
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

Compare Panasonic TS5 vs Canon A2300

Compared to Olympus TG-850

Olympus VG-160

Olympus TG-850

$100
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

$249
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Olympus VG-160 vs Olympus TG-850

Panasonic TS5

Olympus TG-850

$249
1/2.33 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$249
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic TS5 vs Olympus TG-850

Compared to Panasonic TS6

Olympus VG-160

Panasonic TS6

$100
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

$298
1/2.33 inch

Waterproof
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic TS6

Panasonic TS5

Panasonic TS6

$249
1/2.33 inch

$298
1/2.33 inch

Less expensive

Compare Panasonic TS5 vs Panasonic TS6

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