Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LZ30

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic LZ30, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") use different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 II was unveiled 3 years after the LZ30 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-M1 II scores vs the LZ30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 II Gallery and Panasonic LZ30 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 II provides external measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ30 has measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic LZ30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 II compared to the LZ30.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 II and LZ30 is 68 and 66 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The picture here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 II and LZ30.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 II using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M1 II will provide you with extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 II provides an advantage in sensor innovation.