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Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Samsung HZ30W front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternate Name is WB600
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Samsung HZ30W, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the HZ30W (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and HZ30W (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM1 was launched 23 months after the HZ30W which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PM1 matches up vs the HZ30W when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Samsung HZ30W

 E-PM1 HZ30W 
RevealedNovember 2011January 2010Newer by 23 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Olympus E-PM1

 HZ30W E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Samsung HZ30W

 E-PM1 HZ30W 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 offers outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Samsung HZ30W has dimensions of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 versus Samsung HZ30W in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PM1 against the HZ30W.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and HZ30W is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The pic here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and HZ30W.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 includes the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF easier. The newer E-PM1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung HZ30W as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
29
manual focus
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography factors
Samsung HZ30W Street photography factors
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Samsung HZ30W
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
42
excellent zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography factors
Samsung HZ30W Travel photography factors
45
no Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
63
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (360mm)
no Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography advice
Samsung HZ30W Landscape photography advice
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
no Timelapse function
43
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Samsung HZ30W
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone socket
30
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (245g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Samsung HZ30W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Samsung HZ30W
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Samsung HZ30W
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Samsung HZ30W
Also referred to as - WB600
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-11-23 2010-01-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-360mm (15.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 16 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lb) 245 grams (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 SLB-11A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $499 $280