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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 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 FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15, 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 FS15 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-30 was announced 3 months later than the FS15 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-30 scores against the FS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic FS15

 E-30 FS15 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus E-30

 FS15 E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FS15

 E-30 FS15 
AnnouncedMarch 2009January 2009Similar age
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 enjoys exterior dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS15 has specifications of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-30 compared to the FS15.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and FS15 is 60 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The visual below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and FS15.

To sum up, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-30 has the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF less difficult.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Panasonic FS15
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography information
Panasonic FS15 Sports photography information
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (750 shots)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FS15 Travel photography advice
49
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (750 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Landscape photography camera
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (750 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
28
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging info
Panasonic FS15 Vlogging info
18
no video recording
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2009-03-24 2009-01-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 29-145mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 lbs) 136g (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,299 $180