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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 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
  • Revealed March 2009
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic SZ1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was manufactured 3 years prior to the SZ1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-30 grades versus the SZ1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic SZ1

 E-30 SZ1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus E-30

 SZ1 E-30 
RevealedJanuary 2012March 2009Fresher by 34 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic SZ1

 E-30 SZ1 
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 provides exterior measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic SZ1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-30 vs the SZ1.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and SZ1 is 60 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through specifications. The visual underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and SZ1.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-30 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic SZ1 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography info
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography advice
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography advice
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
70
lighter than competitors (131 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ1
52
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
43
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video recording
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (131g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-03-24 2012-01-09
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
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
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 5.60 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 reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 131 gr (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 photographs 250 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $1,299 $179