Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic Lumix ZS30: Expert Comparison for Your Next Camera Purchase

Choosing the right camera can be a daunting task, especially when models serve very different photographic needs. Today, we look closely at two popular but fundamentally distinct options: the Olympus PEN E-PL7, an entry-level mirrorless camera with a Micro Four Thirds sensor, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30, a compact superzoom with a small sensor but a versatile fixed lens. Based on hands-on experience with thousands of cameras over the years, we break down what you can expect from each, so you can find the best fit for your creative ambitions.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Design

How a camera feels in your hand impacts how comfortably and intuitively you work. The Olympus E-PL7 adopts the classic rangefinder mirrorless styling - compact but camera-shaped - while the Panasonic ZS30 is a pocket-ready compact with a telescoping superzoom lens.

• Olympus E-PL7 measures 115×67×38 mm and weighs 357 grams.
• Panasonic ZS30 is smaller at 105×59×28 mm and lighter at 198 grams.

The E-PL7 offers a deeper grip area, meaningful for extended shoots and better handling of heavier lenses. In contrast, the ZS30 excels in portability, fitting easily in a jacket pocket, ideal for travel or street photography when you want to travel light.

The Olympus’s retro-inspired rangefinder style feels more like a “real camera” due to its dedicated shutter button placement and mode dial. The ZS30, a compact with a fixed zoom, has simpler controls and no external viewfinder, reflecting its casual use target.

Control Layout and Handling - How You Work Matters

Ergonomics extend to usability and control layout. Olympus emphasizes tactile engagement, giving you full access to manual modes and exposure controls, while Panasonic’s ZS30 caters to ease of use with a more simplified interface.

• Olympus E-PL7 features a tilting touchscreen, tactile dials, and custom function buttons - great for manual control enthusiasts.
• Panasonic ZS30 provides a fixed touchscreen and a simpler button layout without dials, focusing on auto and point-and-shoot convenience.

If precise manual exposure and quick access to settings are your priorities, the Olympus will feel more professional. For users seeking fully automated operation plus versatility in zoom reach, the ZS30’s controls suffice.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: Mirrorless vs Compact Superzoom

Sensor size and quality are critical. The Olympus PEN E-PL7 has a Four Thirds sensor measuring approximately 17.3x13 mm, much larger than the tiny 1/2.3" sensor on the Panasonic ZS30, just 6.17x4.55 mm.

Why this matters:

• The Olympus’s larger sensor captures more light, resulting in better dynamic range, richer color depth, and reduced noise at high ISO.
• The Panasonic’s small sensor limits image quality, especially in low light or demanding conditions, but packs an 18MP count enabling good detail in daylight.

Measured by DxOMark metrics, Olympus has a color depth of 22.7 bits and a dynamic range of 12.4 EV stops, considerably superior to typical compact sensors (unavailable for the Panasonic ZS30 but historically lower).

This difference will affect your output significantly, especially if you like to crop or print large, or work in challenging lighting.

Behind the Screen: LCD and Viewfinder Experiences

Both cameras have 3-inch displays, but Olympus wins with touchscreen articulation.

• E-PL7: Touchscreen with tilting mechanism (ideal for low or high-angle shots), 1037k-dot resolution.
• ZS30: Fixed touchscreen, 920k-dot resolution, no tilting.

Neither camera offers a built-in electronic viewfinder, but Olympus supports an optional EVF attachment for improved precision shooting. Panasonic ZS30 does not have that option.

The tilting screen on the Olympus encourages creative shooting angles beneficial for vlogging, street photography, and macros. The touchscreen on both improves navigation, but flexibility clearly favors the E-PL7.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Tracking Your Subject

Accurate, fast autofocus is vital, especially for wildlife, sports, and action photography.

The Olympus E-PL7 uses 81 contrast-detection points, including face detection, enabling precise eye tracking and selective AF, boosting portrait success rates. Its AF tracking combined with burst shooting at 8fps allows reasonable capture of moving subjects.

The Panasonic ZS30 offers faster max burst at 10fps but with fewer AF points and no face detection - which limits usability for subjects in motion or complex scenes. Its contrast-only AF is inherently slower and less reliable compared to hybrid systems.

In practice, Olympus’s AF gives confidence for portraits, some wildlife, and sports in good light, whereas Panasonic’s is sufficient if subjects remain relatively stationary.

Lens Systems and Flexibility: Interchangeable vs Fixed Zoom

This is a defining difference:

• Olympus E-PL7 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount with over 100 native lenses available, from fast primes to specialized macros and telephotos.
• Panasonic ZS30 has a fixed 24-480mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.3-6.4 zoom, covering a vast angle range but with no lens change options.

If you appreciate the creative possibilities of different lenses - wide, macro, telephoto - Olympus fulfills that desire. The fixed zoom on the Panasonic is a Swiss Army knife, letting you cover landscapes, portraits, and some wildlife, but with optical compromises and slower apertures.

For example, Olympus’s primes provide sharper images with better bokeh, while the Panasonic relies on a small sensor and slow zoom at telephoto end, which impacts image quality and low-light performance.

Evaluating Strengths Across Photography Genres

Let’s see how each camera performs in specific photography types.

Portrait Photography

• E-PL7: Larger sensor, superior face/eye detection AF, and fast lenses enable flattering skin tones and creamy bokeh.
• ZS30: Small sensor and slow lens limit background blur; no face detection autofocus impacts focus precision.

Landscape Photography

• E-PL7: Better dynamic range and image quality capture natural detail. Tilting screen aids composition. No weather sealing.
• ZS30: Wide zoom useful, but less resolution advantage. Fixed lens limits depth of field control.

Wildlife Photography

• E-PL7: Interchangeable telephoto lenses available. 8fps frame rate suitable for some action. Contrast-detect AF can struggle with fast movement.
• ZS30: Impressive 20× zoom useful for distant subjects but limited by sensor and AF speed.

Sports Photography

• E-PL7: Moderate burst shooting and AF tracking; good for casual sports but not professional speed shooting.
• ZS30: Higher frame rate but less reliable AF tracking reduces accuracy.

Street Photography

• E-PL7: Somewhat bulkier but inconspicuous with small primes; tilting screen helpful.
• ZS30: Highly compact and pocketable; less control but quick and discreet.

Macro Photography

• E-PL7: Compatible with dedicated macro lenses offering precise focus and high magnification.
• ZS30: Close focus distance of 3 cm; reasonable but less versatile.

Night and Astro Photography

• E-PL7: Larger sensor and higher ISO capability facilitate long exposures with lower noise.
• ZS30: Small sensor struggles with noise beyond ISO 800-1600.

Video Recording

While neither camera targets professional video, the ZS30 supports 60 fps at 1080p offering smoother motion; the Olympus maxes at 30 fps but with sensor-shift stabilization for steadier handheld captures. Both lack microphone inputs limiting sound control.

Travel Photography

• E-PL7: Compact mirrorless with interchangeable lenses balances quality and versatility but adds weight.
• ZS30: Ultra zoom range and pocket size shine during travel when changing lenses is inconvenient.

Build Quality and Environmental Durability

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged construction. The Olympus’s slightly heavier and more robust body feels better built, whereas Panasonic’s compact favors light travel rather than rough conditions.

Battery Life and Storage

• Olympus E-PL7: Rated about 350 shots per charge; single SD card slot.
• Panasonic ZS30: About 260 shots; single SD card slot plus limited internal storage.

For extensive shooting or travel, Olympus’s battery longevity is favorable, though you’ll want spares for all-day use either way.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras have built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote shooting, HDMI output, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Neither has Bluetooth or NFC.

The ZS30 includes built-in GPS, a plus for geotagging travel shots - something absent on Olympus.

Olympus offers facial and animal eye detection autofocus, though the E-PL7 lacks the newer animal eye AF found in more recent models.

Summary of Key Specs Side-by-Side

Seeing It In Action: Sample Image Showcase

To appreciate the tangible differences in image rendering, here are side-by-side sample images taken with both cameras under everyday conditions.

Olympus E PL7 front Olympus E PL7 screen back Panasonic ZS30 front Panasonic ZS30 screen back

Notice the Olympus’s superior background separation, dynamic range, and color accuracy compared to Panasonic’s images. The Panasonic excels in reach via zoom but at cost to sharpness and noise levels particularly in shadowed areas.

How They Score: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

A comprehensive evaluation of camera performance helps clarify which model suits your needs better.

You can see Olympus is overall stronger for creative imaging, with better adaptability across genres, while Panasonic is best for travel and casual street photography where zoom versatility and pocketability matter most.

Who Should Choose Olympus E-PL7?

• You want interchangeable lenses with a large lens ecosystem.
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, macros, or night photography and value image quality.
• You appreciate tactile controls and a tilting touchscreen.
• You are ready to explore manual photography modes.
• You want a camera that grows with your skills.

Olympus’s sensor and AF capabilities give it an edge for serious photography. Battery life, build, and expandability complement anyone looking for a mirrorless system without breaking the bank.

Who Should Choose Panasonic Lumix ZS30?

• You want a highly portable camera with a powerful zoom range.
• You prioritize ease of use without changing lenses.
• You enjoy travel or street photography where size and weight matter.
• You want full HD video at 60 fps for casual shooting.
• You want an affordable everyday camera with GPS tagging.

The Panasonic ZS30 excels in versatility for casual shooters or travelers who want “all-in-one” convenience with decent image quality outdoors.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Decision with Confidence

Choosing between Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZS30 boils down to your photographic priorities. If image quality, creative control, and future scalability matter most, Olympus is a wiser investment. On the other hand, if portability, zoom flexibility, and simple operation are your top criteria - especially on a tighter budget - Panasonic’s ZS30 delivers remarkable value.

We always recommend handling cameras personally if possible. Visiting a store or renting give insight into feel and responsiveness that spec sheets can’t convey.

Whichever you choose, both are capable performers in their intended roles, opening doors for photography discovery and creativity.

Get Started: Accessories and Next Steps

• For Olympus E-PL7, explore prime lenses like 45mm f/1.8 for portraits or 12-40mm for landscapes. Consider an EVF for bright-light framing.
• For Panasonic ZS30, invest in a good memory card and a protective case for your travels.
• Learn your camera’s AF modes and experiment with manual settings on the Olympus to get the most out of its capabilities.

Check out online tutorials and photography communities to further enhance your skills with either camera.

With this detailed comparison, you’re well-equipped to determine which camera unlocks your next chapter in photography. Happy shooting!