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Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Revealed August 2017
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M10 II
  • Updated by Olympus E-M10 IV
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
  • Released January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M10 III (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-M10 III was manufactured 4 years later than the ZS30 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-M10 III grades vs the ZS30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 III over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-M10 III ZS30 
ReleasedAugust 2017January 2013More recent by 57 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k920kClearer screen (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-M10 III

 ZS30 E-M10 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 III and Panasonic ZS30

 E-M10 III ZS30 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M10 III offers outer dimensions of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") along with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing 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-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M10 III against the ZS30.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 III and ZS30 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 III and ZS30.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M10 III due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS30 will give greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more recent E-M10 III provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
33
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M10 III
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
77
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than competitors (410 grams)
66
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
lighter than others (198g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
69
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
46
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography details
67
supports touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
more heavy than competitors (410 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than others (198 grams)
boasts touch focus
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography features
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery power (260 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
32
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (410g)
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (198 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2017-08-31 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410g (0.90 lbs) 198g (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 260 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $650 $250