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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released November 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Released January 2013
  • Previous Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ40
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic LZ30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was introduced 3 years prior to the LZ30 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL1s matches up versus the LZ30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic LZ30

 E-PL1s LZ30 
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 LZ30 E-PL1s 
ReleasedJanuary 2013November 2010Newer by 26 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic LZ30

 E-PL1s LZ30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s provides external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ30 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic LZ30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1s against the LZ30.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and LZ30 is 86 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out technical specs. The image here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and LZ30.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic LZ30 will show more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
32
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography info
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than others in class (552 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography information
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography details
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery power (290 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (875mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (552 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography factors
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
45
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good battery pack (380 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging factors
Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
22
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
heavier than others in class (552g)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic LZ30
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-11-16 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-875mm (35.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 552 grams (1.22 pounds)
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 score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots 380 shots
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery model BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $599 $230