Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic XS1

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic XS1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-30 was released 4 years prior to the XS1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-30 grades against the XS1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-30 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-30 Gallery & Panasonic XS1 Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 provides physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Panasonic XS1 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic XS1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-30 compared to the XS1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and XS1 is 60 and 97 respectively.

Quite often, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through specifications. The picture below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and XS1.

Plainly, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-30 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic XS1 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.