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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
89 Imaging
40 Features
36 Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92 Imaging
42 Features
48 Overall
44

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 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
  • Released January 2013
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is pretty similar and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was launched at a similar time to the ZS30 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ-16 iHS scores versus the ZS30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic ZS30

		

		

			
 SZ-16 iHS ZS30 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

		

		

			
 ZS30 SZ-16 iHS 
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS30

		

		

			
 SZ-16 iHS ZS30 
ReleasedJanuary 2013January 2013Similar age
Manually focus  Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen  Lacking selfie screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS comes with physical measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).
Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic ZS30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the ZS30.
Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison
Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and ZS30 is 89 and 92 respectively.
Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Oftentimes, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The pic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and ZS30.
As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic ZS30 to offer extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively.
	
			Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography details
35
 megapixel count good (16MP)
 comes with face detect autofocus
 manual focus not available
 no manual control
 cannot use external flash
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
33
 MP count good (18MP)
 manual focus not available
 cannot use external flash
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography info
61
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 lighter than competitors (226 grams)
 fixed screen
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
66
 image stabilization (Optical)
 provides focus via touch
 lighter than competition (198g)
 no articulating screen
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary
Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
42
 incredible zoom range (25-600mm  24.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 comes with tracking focus
 slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 bad battery life (220 shots)
 no phase detect autofocus
46
 excellent zoom range (24-480mm  20.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count good (18MP)
 has tracking focus
 low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 low battery pack (260 shots)
 lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
 Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Travel photography camera
 Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
65
 lighter than competitors (226g)
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 quite wide (25mm)
 very long reach (600mm)
 does not have Time Lapse mode
 bad battery life (220 CIPA)
 does not posses selfie friendly display
 slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
 lighter than competition (198 grams)
 provides focus via touch
 MP count good (18 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 decently wide (24mm)
 long zoom (480mm)
 doesn't have Time Lapse mode
 low battery pack (260 CIPA)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography highlights
41
 quite wide (25mm)
 good sized screen (3 inch)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
 manual focus not available
 can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
 slow max aperture (f3.0)
 no manual control
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 no RAW format
 bad battery life (220 CIPA)
 does not have Time Lapse mode
44
 decently wide (24mm)
 nice screen size (3")
 image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count good (18 megapixels)
 manual focus not available
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
 low battery pack (260 per charge)
 doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS30
31
 quite wide (25mm)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 comes with face detect autofocus
 lighter than competitors (226g)
 slow max aperture (f3.0)
 does not posses selfie friendly display
 low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
 does not have mic support
35
 decently wide (24mm)
 screen is touchscreen
 image stabilization (Optical)
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 lighter than competition (198 grams)
 somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-08 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 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
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
Autofocus touch    
Continuous autofocus    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detect autofocus    
Contract detect autofocus    
Phase detect autofocus    
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch operation    
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port    
Headphone port    
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 198 gr (0.44 lbs)
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 220 images 260 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $230 $250