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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2009
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FX580, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was introduced 2 months after the FX580 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-30 scores versus the FX580 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-30 FX580 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-30

 FX580 E-30 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FX580

 E-30 FX580 
LaunchedMarch 2009January 2009Same age
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 has physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Panasonic FX580 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FX580 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-30 against the FX580.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and FX580 is 60 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The pic here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and FX580.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide the same megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-30 has the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
26
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography advice
Panasonic FX580 Street photography advice
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Panasonic FX580 Sports photography info
52
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (750 CIPA)
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography information
Panasonic FX580 Travel photography information
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (750 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
58
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
37
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging information
Panasonic FX580 Vlogging information
18
no video recording
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FX550
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-03-24 2009-01-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
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
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
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 - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.00 m
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 reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
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
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,299 $499