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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced November 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 3 years earlier than the ZS30 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL1s scores versus the ZS30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL1s ZS30 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 ZS30 E-PL1s 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013November 2010Fresher by 26 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL1s ZS30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1s has got outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1s vs the ZS30.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and ZS30 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching technical specs. The photograph below might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and ZS30.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will render more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL1s will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
33
megapixel count good (18MP)
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography info
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
66
image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (198g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
features touch to focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery pack (260 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography information
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
44
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery pack (260 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
35
quite wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-11-16 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes 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 sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 198 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 290 photos 260 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $250