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Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Alternative Name is X-935
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
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the FE-5020 (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FE-5020 was revealed 4 years before the ZS30 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick view of how the FE-5020 matches up vs the ZS30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Panasonic ZS30

 FE-5020 ZS30 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus FE-5020

 ZS30 FE-5020 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013July 2009More modern by 42 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Panasonic ZS30

 FE-5020 ZS30 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-5020 has got external measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the FE-5020 versus the ZS30.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5020 and ZS30 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizes only by checking specs. The picture below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-5020 and ZS30.

All in all, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS30 to give extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FE-5020 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography advice
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
33
good MP (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-5020
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
60
weather sealing
lighter than competition in class (137g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than average in class (198g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography details
24
weather sealing
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
provides tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition in class (137g)
weather sealing
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than average in class (198 grams)
comes with touch to focus
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography factors
31
pretty wide (24mm)
weather sealing
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
44
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging details
28
pretty wide (24mm)
lighter than competition in class (137g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic support
35
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (198 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus FE-5020Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus FE-5020 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also Known as X-935 Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-22 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
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 mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.10 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 137 grams (0.30 lb) 198 grams (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $160 $250