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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
Portability
82
Imaging
60
Features
80
Overall
68

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2009
Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Released February 2018
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GX9, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and GX9 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was launched 10 years prior to the GX9 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-30 scores versus the GX9 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic GX9

 E-30 GX9 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Olympus E-30

 GX9 E-30 
ReleasedFebruary 2018March 2009More recent by 108 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1240k230kCrisper screen (+1010k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GX9

 E-30 GX9 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 offers physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Panasonic GX9 has measurements of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") and a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GX9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 versus the GX9.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and GX9 is 60 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The photograph below might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and GX9.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic GX9 to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GX9 as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
76
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography details
Panasonic GX9 Street photography details
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Panasonic GX9 Sports photography features
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (750 CIPA)
72
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
low battery life (260 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GX9 Travel photography advice
49
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (750 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
71
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
low battery life (260 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX9 as a Landscape photography camera
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery power (750 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (260 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Panasonic GX9 Vlogging advice
18
no video
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GX9
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2009-03-24 2018-02-13
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,240k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,760k dot
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 407 gr (0.90 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 shots 260 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,299 $1,000