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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Introduced March 2009
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS45
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS50, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is pretty close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was brought out 6 years earlier than the ZS50 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-30 scores against the ZS50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-30 ZS50 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-30

 ZS50 E-30 
LaunchedJanuary 2015March 2009More recent by 70 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-30 ZS50 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 enjoys exterior measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS50 has measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS50 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-30 against the ZS50.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and ZS50 is 60 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The visual here should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and ZS50.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-30 includes the bigger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The older E-30 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography information
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
42
manual focus
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography features
72
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (243g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 per charge)
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography information
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (750 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
66
lighter than competition (243g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography highlights
52
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (750 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
51
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video recording
34
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (243 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-03-24 2015-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 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
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 6.40 m
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, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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 - 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lb) 243 gr (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 44
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.2
DXO Low light rating 530 138
Other
Battery life 750 shots 300 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $1,299 $350