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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 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
  • Announced March 2009
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Boost to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FS42, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is very comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was launched very close to the FS42 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-30 matches up versus the FS42 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic FS42

 E-30 FS42 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-30

 FS42 E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FS42

 E-30 FS42 
IntroducedMarch 2009April 2009Same age
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 offers 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) whilst the Panasonic FS42 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FS42 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-30 versus the FS42.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and FS42 is 60 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and FS42.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-30 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-30 will show more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography details
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography information
Panasonic FS42 Street photography information
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 CIPA)
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography info
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography info
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery life (750 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
52
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery life (750 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging factors
18
can't record video
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2009-03-24 2009-04-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 3200 1000
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 6.3
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 6.30 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 Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 lb) 132g (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model 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/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,299 $580