Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS1

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is relatively similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was brought out very close to the ZS1 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-30 matches up against the ZS1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-30 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-30 Gallery & Panasonic ZS1 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 has 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) and the Panasonic ZS1 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-30 and the ZS1.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and ZS1 is 60 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it's hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and ZS1.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-30 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-30 will deliver more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively.