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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Old Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Renewed by Panasonic LZ40
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic LZ30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the LZ30 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 5 months after the LZ30 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the LZ30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic LZ30

 E-PM2 LZ30 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Olympus E-PM2

 LZ30 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LZ30

 E-PM2 LZ30 
AnnouncedMay 2013January 2013Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 offers external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ30 has proportions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic LZ30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-PM2 vs the LZ30.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and LZ30 is 89 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The pic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and LZ30.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses the exact same MP but different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 provides the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
32
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography highlights
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition in class (552g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography information
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
good battery power (380 per charge)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography highlights
66
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
missing Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
56
good battery power (380 per charge)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (875mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (552g)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
missing Timelapse mode
45
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
good battery power (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
22
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
heavier than competition in class (552 grams)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LZ30
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-05-21 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
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 4:3 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-875mm (35.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269g (0.59 lb) 552g (1.22 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 380 images
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $448 $230