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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 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
  • Launched March 2009
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic LZ20, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and LZ20 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The E-30 was brought out 4 years prior to the LZ20 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-30 grades vs the LZ20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic LZ20

 E-30 LZ20 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus E-30

 LZ20 E-30 
LaunchedJuly 2012March 2009Fresher by 40 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic LZ20

 E-30 LZ20 
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 offers external 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) while the Panasonic LZ20 has proportions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") and a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic LZ20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-30 vs the LZ20.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and LZ20 is 60 and 71 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and LZ20.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-30 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic LZ20 will resolve more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Portrait photography camera
59
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
36
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography advice
72
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
45
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (499 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography highlights
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
47
long zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography factors
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
58
better than average battery life (380 shots)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (525mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (499g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography advice
52
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (750 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
45
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging advice
18
lack of video recording
25
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (499 grams)
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-03-24 2012-07-18
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16 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 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 6.80 m
Flash options 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lb) 499 grams (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 pictures 380 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $1,299 $250