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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2009
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic ZS30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was released 5 years earlier than the ZS30 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the FE-45 grades against the ZS30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Panasonic ZS30

 FE-45 ZS30 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus FE-45

 ZS30 FE-45 
LaunchedJanuary 2013January 2009More modern by 48 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS30

 FE-45 ZS30 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-45 features physical dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic ZS30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the FE-45 and the ZS30.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-45 and ZS30 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The pic below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-45 and ZS30.

All in all, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic ZS30 to offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
33
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-45
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
56
image stabilization (Digital)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
66
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography highlights
26
image stabilization (Digital)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
46
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition in class (198g)
supports touch to focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (260 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography details
27
image stabilization (Digital)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5")
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging highlights
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing microphone port
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (198g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus FE-45Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus FE-45 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-01-07 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-108mm (3.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 grams (0.31 lbs) 198 grams (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $130 $250