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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZS30, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The E-3 was revealed 5 years before the ZS30 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-3 matches up vs the ZS30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-3 ZS30 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-3

 ZS30 E-3 
IntroducedJanuary 2013February 2008More recent by 59 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-3 ZS30 

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-3 provides physical dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic ZS30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-3 compared to the ZS30.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and ZS30 is 56 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and ZS30.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-3 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS30 will give extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
33
megapixel count good (18MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-3
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
69
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competition (198g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
55
environment sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (10MP)
69
lighter than competition (198 grams)
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery (260 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography information
56
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
small screen (2.5")
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery (260 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
18
can't shoot video
35
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-02-20 2013-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lb) 198g (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $670 $250