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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was revealed 5 years after the ZS30 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL9 grades vs the ZS30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL9 ZS30 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2013Newer by 62 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k920kCrisper display (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ZS30 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-PL9 ZS30 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the ZS30.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and ZS30 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through specifications. The pic below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and ZS30.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS30 will produce more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent E-PL9 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
33
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers touch to focus
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than competitors (198 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
77
supports bluetooth
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors (198g)
provides touch focus
resolution is good (18MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging advice
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (198 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2018-02-08 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 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
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1200 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 6.40 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 380g (0.84 pounds) 198g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $599 $250