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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Announced March 2009
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic ZS100, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") offer different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was released 7 years earlier than the ZS100 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-30 scores vs the ZS100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-30 ZS100 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-30

 ZS100 E-30 
LaunchedJanuary 2016March 2009More modern by 82 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS100

 E-30 ZS100 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 features exterior dimensions 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 ZS100 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic ZS100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-30 against the ZS100.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and ZS100 is 60 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing specifications. The image underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and ZS100.

To sum up, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS100 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography information
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
64
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography details
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
78
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition in class (312g)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography features
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery (750 shots)
67
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS100
49
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (750 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
75
lighter than competition in class (312g)
comes with touch focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS100 Landscape photography advice
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (750 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
68
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging features
18
no video
35
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (312g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Class Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-03-24 2016-01-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
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
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 9.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 pounds) 312g (0.69 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.5
DXO Low light rating 530 559
Other
Battery life 750 images 300 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $1,299 $700