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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2012
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
  • Released January 2013
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is fairly close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 months before the ZS30 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PL5 grades versus the ZS30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL5 ZS30 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-PL5

 ZS30 E-PL5 
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL5 ZS30 
ReleasedSeptember 2012January 2013Same generation
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has got exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL5 vs the ZS30.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and ZS30 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching specs. The pic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and ZS30.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS30 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
33
good megapixels (18MP)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
66
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (198 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (260 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
75
features focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
69
lighter than competitors in class (198 grams)
has touch to focus
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (260 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
missing Time Lapse function
44
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery (260 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging factors
78
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing mic support
35
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 198 gr (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 260 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $400 $250