Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ1000 II

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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-30MR Gallery and Panasonic FZ1000 II Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.