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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 front
Portability
95
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic TS30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 142g - 104 x 58 x 20mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT30
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic TS30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the TS30 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and TS30 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 19 months prior to the TS30 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS30 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 grades versus the TS30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic TS30

 E-PM2 TS30 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS30 over the Olympus E-PM2

 TS30 E-PM2 
ReleasedJanuary 2015May 2013Fresher by 19 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic TS30

 E-PM2 TS30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 enjoys outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic TS30 has measurements 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-PM2 and Panasonic TS30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM2 vs the TS30.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and TS30 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The photograph here should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and TS30.

All in all, each of the cameras provide the same megapixels but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PM2 features the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF easier. The older E-PM2 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic TS30 Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
36
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic TS30 as a Street photography camera
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (142g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography features
Panasonic TS30 Sports photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
slow frames per second (1.3 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Panasonic TS30 Travel photography info
66
provides touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
74
lighter than competition in class (142g)
environment proof
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic TS30 Landscape photography highlights
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse function
44
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
environment proof
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging information
Panasonic TS30 Vlogging information
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (142g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic TS30
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FT30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2013-05-21 2015-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 1.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation 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, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 142 grams (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 104 x 58 x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 250 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $448 $180