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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II front
Portability
55
Imaging
54
Features
82
Overall
65

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released March 2011
Panasonic FZ1000 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-400mm (F2.8-4.0) lens
  • 808g - 136 x 97 x 132mm
  • Released February 2019
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ1000
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Overview

The following is a in-depth review of the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ1000 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the FZ1000 II (20MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and FZ1000 II (1") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-30MR was unveiled 9 years prior to the FZ1000 II which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ1000 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SZ-30MR grades versus the FZ1000 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic FZ1000 II

 SZ-30MR FZ1000 II 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ1000 II over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 FZ1000 II SZ-30MR 
ReleasedFebruary 2019March 2011Newer by 97 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1240k460kSharper display (+780k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ1000 II

 SZ-30MR FZ1000 II 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR features outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ1000 II has proportions of 136mm x 97mm x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2") having a weight of 808 grams (1.78 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ1000 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the FZ1000 II.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and FZ1000 II is 89 and 55 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The image underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and FZ1000 II.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-30MR having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic FZ1000 II will give you more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FZ1000 II Portrait photography advice
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Panasonic FZ1000 II Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
provides touch focus
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ1000 II
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
69
amazing zoom range (25-400mm 16.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography details
Panasonic FZ1000 II Travel photography details
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (220 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
has bluetooth
provides touch focus
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (400mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ1000 II as a Landscape photography camera
41
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
65
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging advice
Panasonic FZ1000 II Vlogging advice
34
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
67
relatively wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic jack
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ1000 II
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-03-02 2019-02-18
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-400mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-4.0
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,240 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 13.50 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, 1st / 2nd Slow Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840x2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p) 1280x720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 808 grams (1.78 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 136 x 97 x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 350 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B DMW-BLC12PP
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $279 $898