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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LZ20
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ40
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic LZ30, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was unveiled 3 years after the LZ30 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the PEN-F matches up vs the LZ30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic LZ30

 PEN-F LZ30 
IntroducedJanuary 2016January 2013Newer by 38 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Olympus PEN-F

 LZ30 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic LZ30

 PEN-F LZ30 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F provides outer dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ30 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic LZ30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the PEN-F and the LZ30.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and LZ30 is 84 and 66 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by seeing technical specs. The picture here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and LZ30.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will show extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F provides an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Portrait photography camera
75
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
32
MP count good (16MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography details
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography details
84
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (552g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography highlights
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low battery power (330 shots)
no phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery power (380 CIPA)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography information
75
includes touch to focus
good resolution (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery power (330 CIPA)
56
great battery power (380 shots)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (875mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (552g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography factors
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (330 CIPA)
45
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
great battery power (380 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging info
Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging info
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of external mic port
22
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (552 grams)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic LZ30
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-27 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-875mm (35.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.40 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 gr (0.94 lb) 552 gr (1.22 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 380 shots
Battery format Battery Pack AA
Battery model BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $1,000 $230