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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Olympus E-300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-300
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 624g - 147 x 85 x 64mm
  • Released January 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-300
  • Successor is Olympus E-330
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS30, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-300 (8MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the E-300 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-300 was launched 9 years prior to the ZS30 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-300 matches up vs the ZS30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-300 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-300 ZS30 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-300

 ZS30 E-300 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013January 2005Fresher by 97 months
Display sizing3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution920k134kClearer display (+786k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-300 ZS30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-300 features external dimensions of 147mm x 85mm x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") with a weight of 624 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-300 versus the ZS30.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-300 and ZS30 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing simply by checking out technical specs. The photograph underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-300 and ZS30.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-300 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will show extra detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-300 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-300
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (8MP)
33
good MP (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-300 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography details
51
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than others (198g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-300 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography info
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-300 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
45
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (8MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (198g)
features focus by touch
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-300 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography information
43
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Timelapse function
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-300 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging advice
9
no video
35
quite wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (198g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-300 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-300 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus E-300Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called EVOLT E-300 Lumix DMC-TZ40
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2005-01-10 2013-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 1.8" 3"
Display resolution 134k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 624g (1.38 pounds) 198g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 147 x 85 x 64mm (5.8" x 3.3" x 2.5") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $800 $250