Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ30

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the LZ30 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 3 months before the LZ30 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL5 grades vs the LZ30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Panasonic LZ30 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 has got exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ30 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic LZ30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL5 against the LZ30.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and LZ30 is 88 and 66 respectively.

In many cases, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The graphic below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and LZ30.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature the identical MP albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL5 comes with the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field easier.