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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 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
  • Introduced March 2009
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic ZS5, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is very similar but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was manufactured 14 months earlier than the ZS5 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-30 grades versus the ZS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-30 ZS5 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-30

 ZS5 E-30 
AnnouncedJune 2010March 2009Newer by 14 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-30 ZS5 
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display sizing
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 has external measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic ZS5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 and the ZS5.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and ZS5 is 60 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by going over specs. The pic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and ZS5.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got the exact same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-30 provides the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography info
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
27
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography details
72
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (214 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography advice
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery power (750 shots)
31
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography details
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
63
lighter than others in class (214g)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography highlights
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
33
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging highlights
18
can't shoot video
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than others in class (214g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-03-24 2010-06-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.30 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
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 pounds) 214 gr (0.47 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $1,299 $300