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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Older Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ40
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the LZ30 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was released 5 years later than the LZ30 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL9 matches up against the LZ30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic LZ30

 E-PL9 LZ30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2013Fresher by 62 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Olympus E-PL9

 LZ30 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic LZ30

 E-PL9 LZ30 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 has got outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ30 has measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 vs the LZ30.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and LZ30 is 85 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through specifications. The graphic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and LZ30.

Plainly, the two cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 provides the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh simpler. The younger E-PL9 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography highlights
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
32
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than average (552g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography features
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography features
77
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
56
better than average battery power (380 shots)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (875mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average (552g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
45
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging features
Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging features
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
22
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
heavier than average (552g)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic LZ30
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2018-02-08 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 121 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-875mm (35.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 552 grams (1.22 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 380 shots
Battery format Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $599 $230