Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LZ30

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LZ30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-P1 was revealed 4 years prior to the LZ30 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-P1 scores versus the LZ30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-P1 Gallery and Panasonic LZ30 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has exterior dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ30 has sizing of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LZ30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P1 versus the LZ30.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and LZ30 is 86 and 66 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and LZ30.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 with its larger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic LZ30 will result in greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.