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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Launched March 2009
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was unveiled 4 years before the ZS15 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-30 scores against the ZS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-30 ZS15 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-30

 ZS15 E-30 
AnnouncedJune 2012March 2009More recent by 39 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-30 ZS15 
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 comes with outside dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-30 compared to the ZS15.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and ZS15 is 60 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The photograph here will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and ZS15.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor measurements. The E-30 has got the larger sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography advice
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography factors
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (750 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
61
lighter than competitors (208g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery power (260 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
52
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
37
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery power (260 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging factors
18
can't shoot video
33
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no microphone port
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-03-24 2012-06-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 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
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.40 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, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 pounds) 208 gr (0.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 photos 260 photos
Battery form Battery Pack 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 1 1
Price at launch $1,299 $279