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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 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 FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Panasonic FS15, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and FS15 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was unveiled 2 years after the FS15 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SZ-30MR scores against the FS15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic FS15

 SZ-30MR FS15 
AnnouncedMarch 2011January 2009Newer by 26 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 FS15 SZ-30MR 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FS15

 SZ-30MR FS15 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR has got 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 FS15 has sizing of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Panasonic FS15 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-30MR and the FS15.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and FS15 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions just by looking at specs. The picture here may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and FS15.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-30MR to give greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more recent SZ-30MR should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography highlights
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
20
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery life (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography advice
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery life (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
27
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FS15 Vlogging highlights
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2011-03-02 2009-01-16
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 226g (0.50 lbs) 136g (0.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" 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 -
Style of battery 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $279 $180