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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
25
Overall
31

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 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
  • Announced March 2009
Panasonic FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the FP3 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and FP3 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-30 was launched 9 months before the FP3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-30 scores vs the FP3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic FP3

 E-30 FP3 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Olympus E-30

 FP3 E-30 
LaunchedJanuary 2010March 2009More recent by 9 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FP3

 E-30 FP3 
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 features exterior dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Panasonic FP3 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-30 against the FP3.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and FP3 is 60 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and FP3.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-30 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FP3 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography factors
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FP3 as a Street photography camera
72
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Panasonic FP3 Sports photography info
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (750 shots)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FP3 as a Travel photography camera
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (750 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
60
offers touch focus
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography advice
52
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery power (750 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
37
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FP3 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video recording
27
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competitors in class (155 grams)
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FP3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FP3
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2009-03-24 2010-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 4.90 m
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 155g (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $1,299 $182