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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic ZS30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was released 13 months before the ZS30 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PM1 scores against the ZS30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic ZS30

 E-PM1 ZS30 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus E-PM1

 ZS30 E-PM1 
IntroducedJanuary 2013November 2011Newer by 13 months
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS30

 E-PM1 ZS30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 has external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic ZS30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM1 and the ZS30.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and ZS30 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The pic below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will result in more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
33
good resolution (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (198g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography information
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
features tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
45
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
44
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery life (260 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic socket
35
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (198g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-11-23 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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 file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 198 grams (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 260 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $499 $250