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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 front
Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
57
Overall
44

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 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 FZ150
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 528g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Revealed April 2012
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FZ150, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the FZ150 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and FZ150 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was announced 4 years earlier than the FZ150 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ150 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-30 scores vs the FZ150 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic FZ150

 E-30 FZ150 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ150 over the Olympus E-30

 FZ150 E-30 
RevealedApril 2012March 2009More recent by 37 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FZ150

 E-30 FZ150 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 has got outer dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ150 has proportions of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 528 grams (1.16 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FZ150 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-30 and the FZ150.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and FZ150 is 60 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and FZ150.

As you can see, both the cameras provide the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-30 contains the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier. The older E-30 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ150 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
41
manual focus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Panasonic FZ150
72
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
58
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (528g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Panasonic FZ150 Sports photography info
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery life (750 shots)
43
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good battery pack (410 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography features
Panasonic FZ150 Travel photography features
49
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
bad battery life (750 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
56
good battery pack (410 per charge)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (528 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ150 Landscape photography highlights
52
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery life (750 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
48
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (410 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ150 as a Vlogging camera
18
can't shoot video
62
quite wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition (528 grams)
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic FZ150 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic FZ150
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-03-24 2012-04-11
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 9.50 m
Flash modes 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 528 grams (1.16 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 40
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 19.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.9
DXO Low light score 530 132
Other
Battery life 750 images 410 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $1,299 $499