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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched June 2013
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
  • Launched January 2013
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was unveiled 6 months later than the ZS30 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the SZ-15 scores vs the ZS30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Panasonic ZS30

 SZ-15 ZS30 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus SZ-15

 ZS30 SZ-15 
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS30

 SZ-15 ZS30 
LaunchedJune 2013January 2013Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-15 has outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-15 versus Panasonic ZS30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-15 against the ZS30.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-15 and ZS30 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-15 and ZS30.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Panasonic ZS30 to resolve extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-15
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
44
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
33
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (250 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
lighter than average (198g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
53
amazing zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography info
68
lighter than average (250g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than average (198 grams)
has focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography factors
49
manual focus
pretty wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
44
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (260 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging advice
34
pretty wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (250 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
35
pretty wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (198 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus SZ-15Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-06-21 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-483mm (21.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 250 gr (0.55 pounds) 198 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $200 $250