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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 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
  • Revealed March 2009
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic GF2, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the GF2 (12MP) is fairly similar and both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was released 23 months earlier than the GF2 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-30 scores versus the GF2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic GF2

 E-30 GF2 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-30

 GF2 E-30 
RevealedFebruary 2011March 2009Newer by 23 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GF2

 E-30 GF2 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 offers outside measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Panasonic GF2 has measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic GF2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-30 compared to the GF2.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and GF2 is 60 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and GF2.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you can expect similar quality of files though you really should take the age of the products into consideration. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography factors
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography details
Panasonic GF2 Street photography details
72
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography information
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography information
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 per charge)
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Panasonic GF2
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (750 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
52
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography advice
52
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging info
Panasonic GF2 Vlogging info
18
lack of video recording
32
built-in touchscreen
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2011-02-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine FHD
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 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
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 310 grams (0.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 54
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light score 530 506
Other
Battery life 750 pictures 300 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $1,299 $330