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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
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
  • Launched January 2013
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 16 months earlier than the ZS30 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-P3 grades versus the ZS30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-P3 ZS30 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-P3

 ZS30 E-P3 
LaunchedJanuary 2013August 2011Fresher by 16 months
Screen resolution920k614kClearer screen (+306k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-P3 ZS30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 has external dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-P3 against the ZS30.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and ZS30 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and ZS30.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS30 will render more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-P3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
33
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes focus by touch
no articulating screen
66
image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
lighter than others (198 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
no phase detect AF
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography information
60
includes focus by touch
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
69
lighter than others (198g)
provides touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography information
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
44
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (260 shots)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS30
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
35
really wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus PEN E-P3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-08-17 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 614k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 pounds) 198g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 260 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $0 $250