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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL7
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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL6 was unveiled 20 months later than the ZS30 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PL6 grades vs the ZS30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL6 ZS30 
RevealedAugust 2014January 2013More recent by 20 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-PL6

 ZS30 E-PL6 
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL6 ZS30 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL6 enjoys outside 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 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-PL6 and Panasonic ZS30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL6 vs the ZS30.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL6 and ZS30 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL6 and ZS30.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL6 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic ZS30 will resolve greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-PL6 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
33
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (198g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
46
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
85
comes with focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (198g)
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (260 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography details
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
44
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging highlights
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
35
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (198g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-08-01 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
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 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
AEB
WB bracketing
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 198g (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 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 360 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $300 $250