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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Released March 2009
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic FH20, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was introduced 9 months prior to the FH20 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-30 matches up against the FH20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic FH20

 E-30 FH20 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-30

 FH20 E-30 
LaunchedJanuary 2010March 2009Fresher by 9 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FH20

 E-30 FH20 
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 has outside measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Panasonic FH20 has proportions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic FH20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-30 and the FH20.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and FH20 is 60 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing just by checking out specs. The photograph below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and FH20.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-30 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic FH20 will provide more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Street photography camera
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography highlights
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 CIPA)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Panasonic FH20
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (750 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
64
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography features
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging info
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging info
18
no video
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-03-24 2010-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $1,299 $179