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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 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 ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic ZS8, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was introduced 3 years prior to the ZS8 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-30 matches up versus the ZS8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-30 ZS8 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-30

 ZS8 E-30 
AnnouncedJuly 2011March 2009More recent by 28 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-30 ZS8 
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 comes with external dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic ZS8 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-30 and the ZS8.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and ZS8 is 60 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and ZS8.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-30 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS8 will show more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-30 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography features
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
30
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography factors
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (210 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 shots)
47
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
49
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery life (750 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
69
lighter than competitors (210 grams)
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography highlights
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
44
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging factors
18
no video recording
30
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (210 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus E-30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-03-24 2011-07-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.00 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 pounds) 210 grams (0.46 pounds)
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 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 images 340 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $1,299 $275