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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced March 2011
Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the F5 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was brought out 22 months prior to the F5 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-30MR scores against the F5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic F5

 SZ-30MR F5 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 F5 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedJanuary 2013March 2011More recent by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic F5

 SZ-30MR F5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic F5 has specifications of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the F5.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and F5 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and F5.

As you can see, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus SZ-30MR to give more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography advice
Panasonic F5 Portrait photography advice
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
29
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography highlights
Panasonic F5 Street photography highlights
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
lighter than competitors (121g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic F5 as a Sports photography camera
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
33
MP count decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Panasonic F5
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competitors (121g)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography information
Panasonic F5 Landscape photography information
41
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
33
really wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging details
Panasonic F5 Vlogging details
34
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
28
really wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic F5
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-03-02 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 121 grams (0.27 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $279 $100