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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic ZS30, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The E-5 was manufactured 23 months prior to the ZS30 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-5 matches up vs the ZS30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-5 ZS30 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-5

 ZS30 E-5 
RevealedJanuary 2013February 2011Fresher by 23 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-5 ZS30 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution920k920kThe same display resolution

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 enjoys external measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic ZS30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-5 and the ZS30.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and ZS30 is 58 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by checking out specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-5 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will produce extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
33
good megapixels (18MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography advice
71
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
lighter than others (198g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography factors
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
69
lighter than others (198g)
features focus via touch
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (260 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography information
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
MP count low (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
44
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery life (260 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging advice
64
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
comes with microphone socket
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
35
relatively wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (198g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-03 2013-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ -
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 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 23
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 198 gr (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 -
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual One
Cost at release $1,700 $250