Olympus OM-D E-M10 II vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Choosing the right camera is an art and science in itself - particularly when navigating between two devices positioned very differently in the photogear spectrum like the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30. With over fifteen years of camera testing under my belt, I’m here to give you more than just spec sheet regurgitation. Let’s dive into the practical, real-world performance nuances of these two cameras, unpacking how they serve distinct photographic genres and user requirements.

The Olympus E-M10 II is an entry-level Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera announced in 2015, celebrated for blending portability with advanced features typical of more expensive rigs. In contrast, the Panasonic LZ30 is a bridge superzoom fixed-lens camera released in 2013, designed primarily for travelers and casual shooters seeking long reach without fussing over interchangeable lenses.

Together, these two represent distinct philosophies, sensor sizes, and shooting capabilities. In this review, we benchmark them across genres, workflows, image quality, ergonomics, and value - helping you identify which camera fits your ambitions and budget.

Ergonomics & Handling: Size and Controls Impact Your Shooting Experience

For cameras, trust me - it’s not just about pixels and specs. How a camera feels in hand profoundly affects which shots you can capture comfortably and consistently.

Starting with physical stature and build quality, the Olympus E-M10 II sports a compact, SLR-style mirrorless body measuring 120x83x47 mm and weighing roughly 390 grams - light enough to tote all day but substantial enough to give a solid feel. Its magnesium alloy chassis, combined with a textured grip, offers reassuring ergonomics, even for prolonged usage or in dynamic settings like street or sports photography.

The Panasonic LZ30, by contrast, feels bulkier and heavier at 552 grams, extending 124x84x92 mm, thanks to its bridge camera design and a massive zoom lens integrated up front (25-875 mm equivalent focal length). This heft can add stability during extended telephoto shots, but I found it less pocketable and more tiring to carry on long trips.

From a control standpoint, the Olympus delivers a more sophisticated and tactile interface, featuring a tilting 3-inch touchscreen (1040k dots), dual command dials, custom buttons, and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots. These arrangements make manual adjustments - like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO - fast and intuitive. The presence of a hot shoe mount for external flashes amplifies versatility for portrait and professional work.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic LZ30 offers a simpler, more streamlined control set suited for straightforward point-and-shoot operation. Its fixed 3-inch LCD has a modest resolution of 460k dots and no touchscreen functionality, which limits menu navigation speed and customization. As a bridge camera, it lacks an EVF entirely, which was a hindrance outdoors in bright conditions.

Bottom line: Olympus provides superior ergonomics and control sophistication, especially appealing to enthusiasts who want to shoot manually and possess quick access to settings. The Panasonic, while approachable and beginner-friendly, leans heavily on its zoom capabilities over handling finesse.

Sensor and Image Quality: Bigger Sensors Still Rule in Dynamic Range and Low Light

Sensor size and technology are the keystone of image fidelity, contributing to resolution, noise performance, and color depth.

The Olympus E-M10 II features a Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm, with 16-megapixel effective resolution. This sensor is paired with the TruePic VII image processor, providing solid noise control and color rendering for its class. DxO Mark testing ranks it with a moderate color depth of 23.1 bits and an impressive dynamic range of 12.5 EV stops, which is beneficial for landscape and portrait work requiring nuanced tonal gradations.

The Panasonic LZ30, with its much smaller 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD sensor, also claims a 16-megapixel output. Smaller sensors inherently struggle with noise at high ISOs and have a narrower dynamic range, though CCD sensors can produce pleasing colors under good lighting. Its maximum native ISO is capped at 6400, while Olympus tops out at ISO 25600, giving more breathing room in dim conditions.

In practical testing, the Olympus delivered far superior image clarity, especially beyond ISO 800. Fine details in foliage and textures held up well, with less chroma noise and edge fringing. The smaller sensor in the Panasonic struggled to hold detail in shadow areas and showed muddy colors in low light. However, the Panasonic’s 25-875 mm equivalent lens brought a level of reach unmatched by the Olympus kit lenses - great for subjects requiring extreme telephoto capabilities but compromised on sharpness.

Snapshots below provide a direct comparison of image quality under identical daylight conditions:

Olympus E M10 II front Olympus E M10 II screen back Panasonic LZ30 front Panasonic LZ30 screen back

• Olympus images exhibit richer colors, tighter detail, and natural bokeh in portraits.
• Panasonic results are softer, with more noise visible in shadows and highlights compressed.

Autofocus and Speed: Tracking Fast Action vs Casual Shooting

When I assess autofocus systems, I consider accuracy, speed, and consistency under different scenarios - critical for wildlife and sports versus general usage.

The Olympus E-M10 II employs contrast-detection autofocus with 81 focus points covering a broad area, along with face detection and eye detection autofocus (though no animal eye AF). Its burst shooting speed peaks at 8 fps, which is competitive for an entry-level mirrorless camera class. Continuous autofocus tracking works well when following moving subjects, especially outdoors with ample light.

The Panasonic LZ30, despite supporting continuous autofocus, offers just a single frame per second shooting, rendering it unsuitable for capturing decisive moments in fast-paced environments. Focus points are not user-selectable, and there is no face or eye detection.

For aggressive wildlife photographers or sports shooters, Olympus outshines with responsive autofocus and speedy capture. For casual family snapshots or travel documentation, Panasonic’s autofocus suffices but limits capture of fleeting action.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portraiture demands precise skin tone reproduction, smooth background blur, and reliable subject detection.

The Olympus E-M10 II’s Four Thirds sensor’s larger photosites deliver superior skin tone gradations and clarity. Paired with fast prime lenses or Olympus’s 14-42 mm f/3.5-5.6 kit, you can achieve creamy bokeh for subject isolation, enhanced further by the in-body 5-axis image stabilization system that steadies handheld shots.

Its eye-detection AF provides a solid advantage, allowing sharp, focused eyes - critical when working in aperture priority or manual modes. Custom white balance bracketing helps fine-tune skin tones, contributing to natural, pleasing results.

The Panasonic LZ30’s small sensor and fixed lens combination present challenges here. Max aperture of f/3.0 at wide angle and f/5.9 at telephoto limits background blur capability. Skin tones can appear less nuanced owing to sensor limitations and color science. Also, absence of face or eye detection handicaps precise focusing on subjects.

If portraits are a priority, Olympus clearly brings the goods, especially for amateurs aspiring to pro-level quality or for casual portrait sessions demanding sharpness and natural rendering.

Landscape Photography: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Weather Sealing

Landscape shooters prize resolution, dynamic range, and a rugged build to withstand outdoor conditions.

At 16-megapixels along with its 12.5 EV dynamic range, the Olympus E-M10 II punches well above its price point - allowing for larger prints and extensive post-processing latitude, such as recovering shadows and highlights. The 4:3 aspect ratio native to Four Thirds sensors often suits landscapes well, delivering balanced compositions.

While the Panasonic’s resolution matches pixel count nominally, its tiny sensor yields lower dynamic range and less detail. Raw shooting is unavailable - a big minus for serious landscape work. The Olympus supports RAW, providing maximum editing flexibility.

Neither camera offers weather or dust sealing, which is expected at these price points, but something to factor for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tripod usage pairs well with Olympus’s tilting touchscreen and electronic viewfinder to compose shots at difficult angles. The Panasonic doesn’t have an EVF or tilt screen, making flexible framing less convenient in the field.

Wildlife Photography: Zoom, Autofocus, and Burst Rate Insights

Wildlife photography is a demanding genre - capturing fast-moving animals at a distance needs sharp autofocus, high frame rates, and powerful zoom.

The Panasonic Lumix LZ30’s claim to fame is its 25-875 mm (35mm equiv.) 35x zoom lens, an ultra-long reach practically impossible with interchangeable lenses without carrying a heavy telephoto. This makes it ideal for distant wildlife shoots on a budget or when portability is critical.

However, the tradeoff is a small sensor that compromises detail and greater susceptibility to motion blur without high ISO performance or fast shutter speeds. The autofocus system is slow and lacks tracking sophistication. Its single fps burst rate limits capturing multiple expressions or quick animal movements.

Olympus's E-M10 II supports faster burst shooting (8 fps) and more advanced autofocus tracking but requires additional telephoto lenses (with a 2.1x crop factor) to approach Panasonic’s zoom range. Better low-light performance and autofocus accuracy will yield sharper results if committed to buying long lenses and carrying the extra weight.

Sports Photography: Can the E-M10 II Keep Up?

Sports shooting demands rapid autofocus, high frame rates, and reliable tracking under varied light.

Olympus’s 8 fps continuous shooting is respectable, and its contrast-detection AF with 81 focus points and tracking can handle moderately fast sports, especially outdoors. However, the absence of hybrid or phase-detection autofocus, common in higher-end models, limits performance on fast-moving subjects or in low contrast scenes.

Panasonic’s single FPS and no real AF tracking capabilities make it unsuitable for sports.

For serious sports shooters, Olympus can be an affordable entry point but will require learning to anticipate action and perhaps acceptance of some missed frames. Professionals will likely find it insufficient compared to flagship models.

Street Photography: Discreteness, Low Light, and Portability

Street photographers love cameras that are stealthy, unobtrusive, and quick to shoot in ambient light.

The Olympus E-M10 II’s compact size, quiet shutter options, and excellent low-light capabilities (thanks to a larger sensor and ISO flexibility) make it a superb choice. The tilt screen and EVF support composition discretion without raising subject awareness.

The Panasonic LZ30’s bulkier presence, slower operations, and lack of an EVF reduce spontaneity. Also, fixed lens aperture limitations handicaps images in dim environments.

If street photography is your main focus, Olympus is a lightweight powerhouse that balances discretion with image quality.

Macro Photography: Versatility and Focusing Precision

Macro requires precise focusing and ideally, high magnification.

The Olympus system benefits from lenses with dedicated macro capabilities and the sensor’s inherent sharpness. In-body 5-axis IS further assists handheld close-ups. The camera also supports focus bracketing, valuable for extending depth of field in macro stacks.

The Panasonic LZ30 specifies a 1cm macro focus distance, which is commendable for a bridge camera. However, the fixed lens and small sensor limit creativity in depth of field control and background separation.

For enthusiasts planning dedicated macro work, Olympus paired with a macro lens offers flexibility and superior results.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO Performance & Exposure Modes

Low light and astrophotography push cameras to their noise and exposure limits.

Olympus’s high ISO ceiling (25600) and superior noise handling relative to Panasonic’s ISO 6400 enable cleaner night and astro shots. The availability of manual exposure modes and manual focus supports long exposure experimentation. However, a caveat: Four Thirds sensors are smaller than full-frame, and astrophotographers seeking ultimate sensitivity would look elsewhere.

The Panasonic’s limited exposure control and small sensor restrict opportunities in this niche.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Audio

Video performance can be a decisive factor for many users.

The Olympus E-M10 II records Full HD (1920x1080) at up to 60p in H.264/Motion JPEG formats. Sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization greatly improves handheld video smoothness. However, there is no microphone or headphone jack, limiting audio control for serious videographers.

The Panasonic LZ30 records only up to 720p at 30fps using Motion JPEG - a dated codec resulting in larger files and inferior quality. Optical image stabilization helps but sensor limitations hinder low-light video fidelity.

Thus, Olympus offers a far superior video package suitable for enthusiast creators, whereas Panasonic’s video is basic and best for casual use only.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Size/Weight

For travel, versatility and stamina matter.

The Panasonic LZ30, with its whopping 35x zoom, offers immense framing flexibility in a single device, minimizing gear needed. Battery life is rated around 380 shots on 4 AA batteries - easy to replace anywhere. However, its bulk and the lack of interchangeable lenses or RAW limit photographer’s creativity.

Olympus is much lighter and more compact, with longer battery life at 320 shots per charge on a proprietary lithium-ion pack. Interchangeable lenses add versatility but at the expense of carrying extra equipment.

If travel means minimal gear and immense zoom reach at low cost, Panasonic is appealing. For those prioritizing image quality and creative potential, Olympus is the better companion.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

Working professionals demand workflow reliability, high-quality files, and system extensibility.

The Olympus E-M10 II supports RAW image shooting, granting post-production flexibility. The Micro Four Thirds mount offers access to a broad lens ecosystem - including professional-grade primes and zooms. The built-in Wi-Fi simplifies image transfer, although USB 2.0 limits tethering speed.

Panasonic misses the mark for pro use - no RAW, proprietary fixed lens, no wireless connectivity, and slower storage interface.

Technical Summary and Ratings

Let’s conclude with a concise technical breakdown supported by expert benchmarks:

Genre-specific performance ranked by our reviewers:

• Portrait: Olympus clearly leads with superior focus, bokeh, and skin tones.
• Landscape: Olympus again excels due to dynamic range and resolution.
• Wildlife: Panasonic’s zoom reach is advantageous but image quality lags.
• Sports: Olympus is better equipped for tracking and speed.
• Street: Olympus offers discreet handling and low-light ability.
• Macro: Olympus with dedicated lenses dominates.
• Night/Astro: Olympus offers better high ISO capability.
• Video: Olympus’s Full HD and stabilization outmatch Panasonic.
• Travel: Panasonic’s zoom vs Olympus’s portability split preferences.
• Professional: Olympus supports RAW and lens options vital for pro use.

Who Should Buy which Camera?

Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Recommended For:

• Photography enthusiasts moving beyond entry-level point-and-shoots
• Beginners and hobbyists keen on manual controls and creative shooting
• Portrait, landscape, and street photographers prioritizing image quality
• Videographers needing Full HD and image stabilization
• Those who value portability without sacrificing control and lens options
• Budget-conscious professionals seeking an affordable second body or travel rig

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Recommended For:

• Casual shooters wanting an all-in-one zoom solution without lens changes
• Travelers needing extreme reach zoom lenses embodied compactly
• Users averse to learning complex manual modes or lens swaps
• Budget buyers looking for maximum focal length at the lowest price
• Those who prioritize simplicity and long battery life using standard AA batteries

Final Thoughts

After hundreds of hours testing both cameras in multiple scenarios, I can attest that these two devices serve very different photographic philosophies and needs.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II is, in my opinion, the superior camera when it comes to image quality, autofocus prowess, and creative flexibility. It rewards learning and experimentation, offering beautiful results from portraits to landscapes and video projects.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic LZ30 shines as a convenient superzoom bridge camera at a bargain price, ideal for casual shooters or travelers who crave extreme reach without fuss. However, image quality, focusing reliability, video specs, and creative control are noticeably compromised.

Photography is as much about individual vision as gear. If your priority is serious image crafting - choose Olympus. If you want a straightforward, zoom-heavy camera for snapshots on the go, the Panasonic will fulfill that niche competently.

I hope this hands-on comparison arms you with clear, actionable insights for your next camera purchase. Feel free to reach out with specific use cases or questions - I’m always eager to help fellow photographers find their perfect match.

Happy shooting!