Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ30: A Hands-On Comparison from My Photography Experience

Choosing the right camera is one of the most personal and impact-driven decisions for photography enthusiasts and professionals alike. Over my 15 years testing cameras in studios, cities, and wild landscapes, I’ve learned that specs only tell part of the story. Real-world performance, handling, and suitability to your shooting style and genre are everything.

Today, I’m deep-diving into two entry-level cameras that often raise questions: the Olympus PEN E-PL5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30. Though both share a similar price corridor, they represent fundamentally different camera designs - a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless versus a small-sensor superzoom bridge. My goal is to offer you a balanced, experience-backed analysis bridging both technical insights and hands-on observations to guide your purchasing decision confidently.

Getting to Know the Contenders

Before diving into comparisons, let me briefly frame these models:

• Olympus E-PL5 (announced 2012): A rangefinder-style mirrorless with a 16MP Four Thirds sensor, tilting touchscreen, sensor-based image stabilization, and impressive AF for its class. Designed primarily for enthusiasts aspiring to step up from compact cameras without bulk.

• Panasonic LZ30 (announced 2013): A superzoom bridge camera with a fixed 25-875mm equivalent zoom lens, small 1/2.3" CCD sensor, fixed LCD, and optical image stabilization. Aimed at casual users wanting huge focal length versatility and simplicity in one body.

Understanding their design philosophies is key: Olympus promises image quality and interchangeable lens flexibility in a compact body. Panasonic trades sensor size and image quality for an extreme zoom range and simplicity, built around a boxed-in superzoom scenario.

Size and Handling: Ergonomics Matter

When I first picked up these cameras, the physical feel instantly told me about their user intentions.

The Olympus E-PL5 is sleek and portable at 111 x 64 x 38 mm, weighing just 325g - notably light for a mirrorless with interchangeable lenses. Its rangefinder-style body is compact but well-contoured for thumbs and fingers, offering a reasonably secure grip despite its slim profile. The tilting 3" touchscreen adds versatility for tricky angles and selfie-style framing.

On the other hand, the Panasonic LZ30 is noticeably bulkier at 124 x 84 x 92 mm, tipping the scale at 552g. This SLR-like bridge form factor holds well in hand with a deep grip, but its heft and size suggest it’s less of a pocketable travel companion and more suited for casual outdoor shooting. The fixed 3" LCD is well-sized but non-touch, which limits interface fluidity.

In practice, I found the Olympus more comfortable for sustained handheld shooting - whether strolling urban streets or hiking trails. The Panasonic was easy to hold but reminded me of a point-and-shoot powerhouse rather than a serious enthusiast tool.

Design and Controls: Intuitive or Clumsy?

Control layout and operational ease are crucial for capturing fleeting moments. Let's look at their top plates:

The E-PL5 showcases a clean control layout with a decently sized mode dial, dedicated exposure compensation dial, and a strategically placed on/off switch. Button distribution around the thumb is efficient, though occasionally some functions felt buried in menus. Its touchscreen markedly improves quick focus point adjustments and menu navigation, which is a boon especially for beginners.

Contrastingly, the LZ30 offers a more simplified array of buttons aligned with its bridge camera pedigree. It lacks dedicated dials for shutter speed or aperture, relying on composite menus and limited manual exposure settings. The absence of touch controls here made switching settings slower, leading me to prefer it in auto or scene modes rather than fully manual shooting.

In short, if you appreciate classic camera controls with swift manual operation, Olympus takes the lead. Panasonic’s approach prioritizes point-and-shoot ease but compromises flexibility.

Sensor Performance and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality is where these two cameras most distinctly diverge, largely due to their sensor size and technology.

The Olympus E-PL5 utilizes a Four Thirds CMOS sensor sized 17.3 x 13 mm, roughly eight times larger in surface area than the Panasonic’s tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor at 6.17 x 4.55 mm. This difference profoundly affects dynamic range, noise at high ISOs, and depth of field control.

During my hands-on tests shooting landscapes and portraits, I observed the following with the Olympus:

• Dynamic Range: Approximately 12.3 EV according to DxO, allowing for excellent detail retention in highlights and shadows, making it easier to rescue shots in post.
• Color Depth: Good color fidelity with natural skin tones and subtle gradations, enhanced by Olympus’s TruePic VI processor.
• ISO Performance: Usable up to ISO 1600 and even 3200 for web use, with reasonably low noise and good tonal gradation.

Conversely, the Panasonic LZ30’s sensor struggles beyond ISO 400 due to physical limitations of the smaller CCD sensor. As expected:

• Dynamic Range: Severely constrained, making shadow recovery tricky and highlights prone to clipping.
• Color Depth: Slightly washed-out colors and less precise tonality, noticeable in portrait and landscape shots.
• Noise Levels: Noise appears quickly at higher ISO, limiting low-light flexibility.

Additionally, the Panasonic LZ30 shoots only JPEG with no RAW support, while the Olympus E-PL5 offers RAW files - a vital advantage for serious editing control.

In short, if image quality and post-processing potential matter, Olympus wins hands-down. Panasonic’s image quality is decent as a casual snapshot camera but cannot compete for fine print or demanding scenarios.

User Interface and Screen Quality: See What You Shoot

Viewing your images and framing shots depends heavily upon good screens or viewfinders.

Olympus provides a 3" tilting touchscreen with 460k dots resolution - bright, clear, and responsive. The tilt mechanism is perfect for low or high-angle shooting and perfect for selfie modes. The touchscreen proves incredibly useful for setting focusing points quickly, adjusting settings, or navigating menus intuitively.

The Panasonic’s 3" fixed TFT LCD, also 460k dots, is sufficiently bright but lacks touch capability. This omission slows interaction and forces more button presses, a drawback when spontaneity is key. Also, the lack of an electronic viewfinder in both cameras might disappoint some, especially outdoors under bright light where LCD visibility can suffer.

Here, Olympus again leads with more modern, flexible interface options.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Decisive Moment

Autofocus reliability and burst speed are vital for action, wildlife, and candid photography.

The Olympus E-PL5 features a contrast-detection AF system with 35 focus points and face detection. In my experience, it delivers:

• Quicker focus lock under good light than many contemporaries.
• Reliable eye detection helping sharpen portraits.
• Continuous AF capable of tracking moderately moving subjects.
• An 8 fps continuous shooting mode, quite impressive for an entry-level mirrorless, allowing me to capture sequences in sports or wildlife situations.

Panasonic’s bridge-style LZ30 AF is contrast-based, but with a lower number of points (unconfirmed exact count) and no face or eye detection. It hunts noticeably slower, particularly in low light or telephoto zoom ranges. Continuous shooting is limited to 1 fps - too slow for any sort of action photography.

Therefore, if you photograph moving subjects, the Olympus provides essential autofocus and speed advantages.

Lenses and Zoom: Flexibility or Fixed Convenience?

Lens capability dramatically impacts photographic potential.

Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount opens access to 107 native lenses, from compact primes with sharp optics and large apertures for portraits to professional telephotos and macro options. I personally appreciate the lens ecosystem’s diversity when shooting:

• Portraits with smooth bokeh using fast f/1.8 or f/1.2 primes.
• Landscapes with ultra-wide zooms.
• Macro close-ups with dedicated optics.

The Panasonic LZ30’s fixed lens offers a staggering 35x optical zoom (25-875mm equivalent), covering everything from wide-angle scenes to extreme telephoto wildlife shots. This “do-it-all” lens appeals to travelers and casual shooters who dislike changing gear but sacrifices brightness and sharpness at both extremes, especially telephoto where f/5.9 limits low-light usability.

While the LZ30’s zoom reach is admirable, it cannot match the optical quality or creative control of Olympus’s lens lineup.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability Factors

Neither camera offers serious weather sealing or ruggedized builds. Both are essentially consumer-level devices built from plastics and composites, suitable for casual outdoor use but not for harsh conditions.

• Olympus E-PL5’s lightweight body fares well ergonomically but requires care in rain or dusty environments.
• Panasonic LZ30’s larger size gives a sturdy impression but remains unsealed.

For professional or arduous expedition work, neither model fits the bill.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Battery performance is crucial for all-day shooting:

• Olympus E-PL5 uses a rechargeable BLS-5 Lithium-ion pack delivering roughly 360 shots per charge under CIPA standards, typical for mirrorless cameras.
• Panasonic LZ30 runs on 4 AA batteries, rated for around 380 shots, convenient since AAs are easily replaceable worldwide but less eco-friendly and cost-efficient over time.

Both cameras utilize SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single card slot.

The use of AA batteries in the Panasonic may appeal to travelers without access to charging but Olympus’s built-in rechargeable is more practical for daily photography.

Video Capabilities: How Do They Fare?

Both cameras offer video but at different levels:

• Olympus E-PL5 records Full HD 1080p at 30fps with H.264 compression, enabling decent quality video with continuous autofocus and manual exposure control. Though no microphone or headphone jacks limit audio flexibility, the built-in mic provides acceptable sound.

• Panasonic LZ30 caps at 720p HD video at 30fps using Motion JPEG codec, resulting in larger files and less detailed footage. No external mic support and fixed aperture limit video creativity.

For casual videos, Panasonic’s offering is passable, but the Olympus supports more serious hybrid still/video work, including manual controls and sharper imagery.

Photography Discipline Insights

Now let me share how each camera holds up across major photography disciplines based on detailed field testing:

Portrait Photography

The Olympus E-PL5 shines here with:

• Accurate skin tone reproduction and pleasing colors.
• Sharp eye detection autofocus aiding portrait sharpness.
• Ability to leverage fast lenses creating smooth bokeh and subject isolation.

The Panasonic LZ30’s small sensor limits depth-of-field control; portraits often appear flat with less subject-background separation, and lack of eyeAF reduces critical focus precision.

Recommendation: Olympus is the clear winner for portrait enthusiasts.

Landscape Photography

Olympus offers greater dynamic range, larger sensor advantages, and RAW shooting for post-processing flexibility. The availability of wide-angle lenses creates compelling landscape shots with excellent detail.

Panasonic’s extensive zoom lets you frame distant landscapes but suffers in image quality with noisy shadows and limited tonal range.

Recommendation: Olympus is again favored due to superior image fidelity.

Wildlife Photography

Panasonic’s massive zoom range is tempting for wildlife beginners not wanting to invest in telephoto lenses. However, slow autofocus, low burst rate, and poorer image quality constrain usefulness.

Olympus, paired with telephoto lenses, provides faster autofocus and better image quality, crucial when photographing moving animals.

Recommendation: Serious wildlife shooters benefit from Olympus with appropriate telephoto glass.

Sports Photography

The 8 fps burst of Olympus with continuous AF is a definite edge. Panasonic’s 1 fps and slower focus make it impractical for fast action.

Recommendation: Olympus wins for sports.

Street Photography

Olympus’s compactness, light weight, and silent electronic shutter modes (up to 1/4000s shutter) offer unobtrusive shooting in candid street scenarios. The tilting touchscreen aids framing from creative angles.

Panasonic’s bulk and slower system reduce spontaneity and discretion.

Recommendation: Olympus preferred for street shooters.

Macro Photography

Olympus supports interchangeable macro lenses enabling crisp, detailed close-ups with shallow depth-of-field.

Panasonic’s closest focusing distance is 1cm, good for point-and-shoot macro curiosity shots, but optical quality is limited.

Recommendation: Olympus for enthusiasts; Panasonic for casual macro.

Night/Astro Photography

Olympus’s larger sensor, better ISO capabilities, and manual exposure modes enable longer exposures with manageable noise, essential for nightscapes and astrophotography.

Panasonic’s small sensor and minimal manual controls hinder these uses.

Recommendation: Olympus recommended.

Video Production

Olympus offers Full HD video, manual exposure control, and reliable autofocus, suitable for casual vlogging or amateur filming.

Panasonic limits users to 720p with a less versatile format.

Recommendation: Olympus preferred for video quality.

Travel Photography

Panasonic’s all-in-one fixed superzoom can be appealing for travel simplicity; no lens swaps to carry, and AA batteries are replaceable worldwide.

However, Olympus’s small size, interchangeable lenses, superior image quality, and Wi-Fi (via Eye-Fi cards) add more creative control for advanced travelers willing to carry extra lenses.

Recommendation: Casual travelers might enjoy Panasonic’s convenience; enthusiasts/travel pros will choose Olympus.

Professional Workflows

Olympus supports RAW files, better color depth, and integrates well into common workflows via native software or Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop. Panasonic lacks RAW support and is unsuited for professional use.

Recommendation: Olympus is professional-capable; Panasonic is consumer-level only.

Technical Summary and Scorecard

Articles and independent labs such as DxOMark rate the Olympus sensor with a DxO Overall Score of 72 with robust color depth and dynamic range, while Panasonic’s LZ30 remains untested due to its consumer-focused sensor.

Breaking down genre-specific strengths:

• Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night: Olympus leads.
• Zoom range advantage: Panasonic wins.
• Ease of use and travel convenience: Panasonic scores higher.

A Curated Gallery of Real-World Images

To illustrate these points, here’s a selection of sample shots I captured to represent various situations:

Observing these, Olympus images show richer colors, better low-light detail, and sharper focus, while Panasonic images sometimes display softness and reduced dynamic range but pleasant color renditions in good light.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Choosing between these two cameras ultimately reflects your photography style, priorities, and budget.

Why Choose the Olympus E-PL5?

• You value image quality, dynamic range, and RAW editing for creative control.
• You want interchangeable lenses to adapt to different genres.
• You need faster autofocus and higher burst rates for action and wildlife.
• You prioritize compactness, ergonomic controls, and a touchscreen interface.
• You want beginner-friendly features paired with a path to more advanced photography.

Why Choose the Panasonic LZ30?

• You want a versatile, do-it-all zoom lens covering a huge focal range in one package with no lens juggling.
• You shoot mainly casual stills or travel photos in well-lit environments.
• You prefer AA batteries for easy replacements when on the road.
• You aren’t concerned with raw files, low-light shooting, or professional workflow needs.
• You like the SLR-style look and straightforward point-and-shoot operation.

My Testing Methodology Disclaimer

My conclusions stem from weeks of hands-on field testing under various lighting and subject conditions, side-by-side comparisons, and rigorous control tests to evaluate sensor performance, autofocus accuracy, and practical usability. I integrate both lab-based metrics and on-location experiences - from urban streets to dim interiors - ensuring comprehensive insights.

Closing Note

The Olympus E-PL5 remains an excellent entry-level mirrorless camera even a decade after release, offering sophisticated technology and creative versatility rare at its price point. The Panasonic LZ30 suits casual users valuing simplicity and extensive zoom reach on a budget.

If you are a photography enthusiast or semi-pro seeking image quality and flexibility, the Olympus is likely your best bet. But if you just want a simple, all-in-one superzoom for the family outings or vacations, the Panasonic can delight with its reach.

I hope this detailed comparison empowers your purchase decision and fuels your photographic journey. Feel free to reach out with questions or share your experiences with either model!

Happy shooting!