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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 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 GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Launched March 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH1
  • New Model is Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GH2, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was announced 24 months earlier than the GH2 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-30 matches up against the GH2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-30 GH2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-30

 GH2 E-30 
LaunchedMarch 2011March 2009Fresher by 24 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GH2

 E-30 GH2 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 enjoys exterior measurements 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 GH2 has dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GH2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-30 compared to the GH2.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and GH2 is 60 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and GH2.

As you can see, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic GH2 to give you greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
70
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography advice
Panasonic GH2 Street photography advice
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
68
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography factors
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography factors
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 shots)
46
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (330 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Travel photography camera
49
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (750 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
62
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (330 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Landscape photography camera
52
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery life (750 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (330 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Vlogging camera
18
can't record video
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic jack
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2009-03-24 2011-03-23
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 15.60 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
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 442 gr (0.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 60
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light score 530 655
Other
Battery life 750 photos 330 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $1,299 $1,000