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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
Portability
69
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Announced March 2009
Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-G80
  • New Model is Panasonic G95
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic G85, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and G85 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was announced 8 years earlier than the G85 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-30 grades versus the G85 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic G85

 E-30 G85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Olympus E-30

 G85 E-30 
IntroducedSeptember 2016March 2009More recent by 91 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic G85

 E-30 G85 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 has got exterior measurements 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 G85 has specifications of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic G85 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-30 against the G85.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and G85 is 60 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The visual underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and G85.

All in all, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic G85 to provide extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Panasonic G85
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography factors
Panasonic G85 Street photography factors
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
77
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Panasonic G85
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (750 CIPA)
64
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
terrible battery (330 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Panasonic G85 Travel photography factors
49
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
71
environment proof
offers touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography info
Panasonic G85 Landscape photography info
52
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (750 shots)
no Timelapse recording
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery (330 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging information
Panasonic G85 Vlogging information
18
no video recording
78
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external mic socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic G85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic G85
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
Also called - Lumix DMC-G80
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2009-03-24 2016-09-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.20 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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 On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 505 grams (1.11 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 71
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.5
DXO Low light rating 530 656
Other
Battery life 750 pictures 330 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,299 $900