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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic TS30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 142g - 104 x 58 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT30
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic TS30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the TS30 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TS30 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was released 3 years after the TS30 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL9 grades against the TS30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic TS30

 E-PL9 TS30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2015More modern by 38 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS30 over the Olympus E-PL9

 TS30 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS30

 E-PL9 TS30 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 has got external dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic TS30 has dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic TS30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 and the TS30.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and TS30 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and TS30.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with the identical MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL9 features the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field simpler. The younger E-PL9 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic TS30 Portrait photography advice
73
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic TS30 Street photography highlights
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides touch focus
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
lighter than competitors (142g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Panasonic TS30
69
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
very slow continuous shooting (1.3 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic TS30 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
provides touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
74
lighter than competitors (142g)
weather proofing
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS30
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
43
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging details
Panasonic TS30 Vlogging details
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
33
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (142 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS30
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30
Other name - Lumix DMC-FT30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2018-02-08 2015-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias 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 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames/s 1.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 lb) 142g (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 104 x 58 x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 250 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 $180