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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Released March 2009
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was brought out 10 months prior to the ZR3 and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-30 grades versus the ZR3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-30 ZR3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-30

 ZR3 E-30 
IntroducedJanuary 2010March 2009More modern by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-30 ZR3 
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 comes with outside 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 ZR3 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-30 and the ZR3.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and ZR3 is 60 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and ZR3.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZR3 will provide extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography factors
59
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
28
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography features
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography features
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography advice
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery power (750 per charge)
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography highlights
49
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (750 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
64
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR3 as a Landscape photography camera
52
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (750 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging information
18
no video
29
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-03-24 2010-01-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine HD II
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 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1300s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 5.30 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 Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 lb) 159g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $1,299 $280