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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Older Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LZ40
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 3 years before the LZ30 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1 matches up against the LZ30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic LZ30

 E-PL1 LZ30 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Olympus E-PL1

 LZ30 E-PL1 
LaunchedJanuary 2013May 2010Fresher by 32 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic LZ30

 E-PL1 LZ30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 has outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ30 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL1 vs the LZ30.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and LZ30 is 86 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and LZ30.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic LZ30 will offer you more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
32
good resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography highlights
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competitors (552g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
good battery pack (380 shots)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (290 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
56
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (875mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (552 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography details
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
no Timelapse recording
45
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
good battery pack (380 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging highlights
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
22
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
heavier than competitors (552 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic LZ30
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-05-17 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-875mm (35.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 552 gr (1.22 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images 380 images
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $288 $230