Olympus SZ-30MR vs. Panasonic Lumix FX700: A Deep Dive Into Compact Camera Superzooms

In the compact camera arena, two intriguing models from the early 2010s still capture imaginations: the Olympus SZ-30MR and the Panasonic Lumix FX700. They epitomize modestly priced, small-sensor superzoom compacts designed for casual photographers craving versatility. But beneath their similar specs lie meaningful differences for enthusiasts pondering which camera might best serve their workflows and photographic ambitions.

Having spent countless hours testing both cameras side-by-side over typical shooting scenarios - ranging from busy urban streets to serene landscapes and everything in between - this article consolidates those insights with granular technical assessments and practical usability analyses. We’ll demystify their capabilities in key photography disciplines while evaluating their ergonomic design, sensor performance, focusing systems, and more. Whether you’re a traveler, an occasional wildlife shooter, or a social photographer intrigued by superzoom reach, this comparison arms you with all the nuanced info you need.

Let’s start by examining their physical presence.

A Tale of Two Bodies: Handling and Ergonomics

The Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FX700 may both be compact, but their footprints and designs subtly cater to different handling preferences. The SZ-30MR sports a relatively stout body, while the FX700 is decidedly svelte.

The SZ-30MR's dimensions measure 106 x 69 x 40 mm at a weight of 226g. It feels reassuringly chunky in hand, lending itself to stable handling for zoom-heavy photography sessions. The fixed lens, with its mammoth 25–600mm equivalent range, demands sturdiness, and Olympus delivers. The grip is sufficiently contoured though lacks robust rubberized surfaces, which occasionally leads to minor slippage in humid conditions.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic FX700 brings a more pocket-friendly 104 x 56 x 25 mm, weighing just 176g. This sleek profile favors ultra-portability, making it an appealing travel companion for those who prioritize minimal bulk. However, the trade-off is a more delicate grip and less tactile button differentiation. It is a camera designed to slip unobtrusively into your palm or even small pouches.

Looking atop these bodies, control layout exhibits another divergence.

Olympus opts for a fairly minimalist approach on the SZ-30MR, with a modest shutter release ring and zoom lever pair, and lacks dials for direct exposure control - underscoring its more auto-centric operation. Panasonic's FX700, however, includes dedicated mode dials and buttons affording deeper manual interaction - a hint that it aims at more enthusiast users seeking exposure priority and manual modes.

Both cameras embrace fixed 3-inch LCDs, but their screens differ significantly in resolution and technology as we’ll address next.

Display and User Interface: Clarity vs. Touch

Evangelists of clear, bright screens will appreciate the SZ-30MR’s 3-inch TFT Hypercrystal III LCD, delivering a crisp 460k-dot resolution - the higher resolution assures fine detail when framing shots, reviewing images, or navigating menus. The screen’s static, non-touch operation means quick menu navigation requires button presses rather than swipes.

Contrast that with Panasonic’s FX700, sporting a 3-inch touchscreen LCD but with a notably lower 230k-dot resolution. The touchscreen interface is helpful for those familiar with contemporary smartphones, speeding AF point selection or menu scrolling. Yet the lower pixel density makes liveview images softer, reducing suitability in bright outdoor lighting, particularly when precise manual focusing.

In short, Olympus scores for display fidelity; Panasonic champions interactivity - each fulfilling different photographic personas.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Battle of the Small Sensors

At first glance, both cameras employ similar 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensors of roughly 28mm² area: Olympus at 6.17 x 4.55 mm and Panasonic at 6.08 x 4.56 mm. This near parity yields comparable physical pixel pitches, though Olympus offers a slight resolution advantage with 16 megapixels compared to Panasonic’s 14 megapixels.

The Olympus SZ-30MR’s 16MP sensor offers max native ISO 3200. Panasonic FX700 extends ISO sensitivity up to 6400, theoretically providing more low-light flexibility.

However, ISO sensitivity alone doesn’t dictate usable quality. In practice, the SZ-30MR produces cleaner images at ISO 800 and below, with noise creeping in aggressively at higher values. Panasonic’s sensor exhibits a softer, less grainy output at comparable ISOs, partially thanks to its Venus Engine FHD processor’s noise reduction algorithms. Yet this also smooths out fine detail occasionally.

In daylight, Olympus images render with a slightly cooler, more neutral color tone, while Panasonic favors warmer, more saturated hues - aesthetic preference plays a role here.

The Olympus SZ-30MR’s 24x zoom lens covers a massive 25-600mm equivalent range, making it a formidable travel and wildlife companion, but at maximum telephoto, image softness increases significantly. Meanwhile, Panasonic’s shorter 24-120mm zoom offers sharper optics throughout its range and a brighter aperture (F2.2–5.9 vs. F3.0–6.9), improving performance in dim settings and delivering creamier backgrounds at wider focal lengths.

Throughout exhaustive side-by-side field tests – landscapes, architecture, daylight portraits – Panasonic’s optics yield crisper edges and less chromatic aberration at the wide end, but Olympus beats with reach and versatility.

Autofocus Systems: Precision or Compact Convenience?

The Olympus SZ-30MR coordinates a contrast-detection AF system with face detection capabilities and multi-area AF. Despite Olympus family heritage in fast AF, this model exhibits modest speed, with single AF lock times hovering around 0.5 to 0.7 seconds in good light.

The Panasonic FX700 offers contrast AF as well, but lacks face detection entirely, limiting ease of tracking human subjects. However, its continuous shooting speed tops out at a sprightly 10 fps, dwarfing the SZ-30MR’s paltry 2 fps burst, which has implications for action photography.

Neither camera provides advanced AF modes like animal eye detection, and both lack phase detection or hybrid AF on sensor, a limitation typical of compact models from their era.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance: When Speed Matters

The SZ-30MR’s slow 2 fps burst rate practically precludes it from serious sports or wildlife action use, whereas Panasonic’s FX700 livens up the party at 10 fps in high-speed burst mode. This difference is crucial when attempting to capture fleeting moments, such as birds in flight or candid street scenes.

Shutter speed ranges differ as well: Olympus tops out at 1/1700s, which is adequate but not exceptional; Panasonic extends up to 1/2000s, favoring fast-action capture. Long exposures are limited on both ends, with Olympus allowing 4 seconds minimum vs. Panasonic’s minimum of 60 seconds - stretching exposure flexibility notably on the latter for night photography purposes.

Built Quality and Weather Resistance: Pocket Companions Without Armor

Neither camera boasts weather sealing or robust ruggedness - common for compact models here. Both eschew dustproof, waterproof, shockproof, or freezeproof certifications. Handling should reflect this: keep them dry and protected from heavy impacts. Panasonic’s lighter body feels more delicate but still well-constructed. Olympus carries a sturdier feel, potentially reassuring for travel users juggling extended zooms.

Lens Characteristics and Macro Potential: Reach vs. Precision

Olympus’ 25-600mm f/3.0-6.9 puts it in the superzoom territory (24x optical zoom equivalent). This impressive range is perfect if you need to photograph distant wildlife or sports in moderate daylight. The trade-off is a relatively slower lens and significant optical compromises at full zoom length - the images tend to show softness and occasional fringing in the telephoto end, especially under harsh contrast lighting.

The Panasonic lens spans a more modest 24-120mm focal range (5x zoom), but its brighter aperture (starting at f/2.2) lets in more light and produces better background separation, a boon for portraits and close-ups. Macro capabilities favor Olympus with a minimum focusing distance of just 1cm versus Panasonic’s 3cm, making the SZ-30MR better suited to fine-detail shots such as flowers, insects, and textures.

Video Features and Capabilities: Full HD, But Which Camera?

Both cameras tick the Full HD checkbox but with differences in frame rates and encoding.

• Olympus SZ-30MR records 1920x1080 at 30fps, encoding in MPEG-4. No higher frame rates or slow-motion modes.
• Panasonic FX700 records 1920x1080 at 60fps with AVCHD codec, along with 720p options at 60fps or 30fps.

The Panasonic’s higher frame rate facilitates smoother motion capture and technically better videos for casual projects or family recordings. Neither camera has microphone or headphone jacks, limiting external audio control and monitoring. Neither offers 4K capture or advanced video features like focus peaking or zebra stripes, so videographers should temper expectations accordingly.

Battery Life and Storage: Real-Life Shooting Considerations

Olympus claims around 220 shots per charge with the SZ-30MR, using a proprietary LI-50B battery pack. In real use, this translates to roughly half a day’s casual shooting before recharge, factoring in LCD use and zooming.

Panasonic’s FX700 battery life details are unspecified, but usage patterns suggest similar endurance, hovering in the 200–250 shots range. Both leverage standard SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots, with Panasonic notably offering internal storage, which may provide a brief safety net in the event of card failure or to snap images quickly without an SD card inserted.

Connectivity and Extras: The Little Things That Count

Olympus throws in Eye-Fi wireless compatibility, making wireless image transfer possible with supported cards - a nice touch for early adopter convenience in a pre-smartphone imaging era. Panasonic lacks wireless transfer features, relying solely on USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs for content extraction.

Neither camera supports Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS positioning. For those keen on adding geotags, this presents an added step post-capture.

Real-World Performance: How Do They Handle Across Genres?

No two cameras photograph the exact same story identically. Over the course of field testing, the differential shines brightest across several photography domains:

• Portraits: Panasonic’s brighter aperture and warmer color bias offer better skin tone flattering, yet Olympus’ face detection AF is a boon. Panasonic lacks this convenience but rewards photographers who manually anticipate focus points.
• Landscape: Panasonic shows crisper wide-angle details but Olympus stretches reach to less-common superzoom territory useful for distant vista shots. Both struggle at high ISOs used in early dawn or dusk scenarios.
• Wildlife: Olympus’ 600mm equivalent edge is dominant, but limited burst rate and slow AF reduce keeper chances. Panasonic’s faster shooting covered shorter distances.
• Sports: Panasonic takes the day due to its 10fps burst and faster shutter speeds; Olympus falls short for tracking fast action.
• Street: Panasonic’s smaller size and faster lens advantage for low-light ambient shots wins over Olympus’ bulk and slower aperture.
• Macro: Olympus enables razor-thin targeted close-ups thanks to 1cm working distance.
• Night/Astro: Panasonic’s longer shutter timings and better high ISO behavior favor starry sky imaging.
• Video: Panasonic’s 60fps 1080p outperforms Olympus’ capped 30fps.
• Travel: Olympus is a superzoom champ, but Panasonic is more comfortable to carry and pack.
• Professional: Neither is a professional workhorse; they lack RAW, ruggedness, or advanced workflow features.

We’ve compiled side-by-side sample images to visualize differences in detail, color, and zoom reach.

Olympus SZ 30MR front Olympus SZ 30MR screen back Panasonic FX700 front Panasonic FX700 screen back

Final Performance Verdicts: Numbers Don’t Lie

Summarizing their abilities with weighted scoring across core criteria yields:

And a break-down by photographic specialty:

Who Should Pick Which?

Both cameras are neat time capsules representing a transitional era in compact superzoom design. If you want...

• An ultra-versatile zoom: Olympus SZ-30MR’s massive 25-600mm is a rare find and perfect for casual wildlife or travel with superreach needs. Its slower speed and narrower aperture are tolerable trade-offs here.
• Manual control and better image quality: Panasonic FX700 delivers more photographic agency with aperture/shutter priorities, faster frame rates for action, and a brighter lens. Its comparatively shorter zoom range confines reach but rewards precision and low-light shooting.
• Portability and travel ease: Panasonic’s svelte, lightweight design makes it more pleasant to carry all day.
• Close-up and macro work: Olympus excels in macro proximity, ideal for nature detectives.
• Video recording: Panasonic’s 60fps 1080p video offers a smoother, more modern output.

Closing Thoughts

Neither camera is a blockbuster by today’s standards, but each holds charm within its niche. The Olympus SZ-30MR is a superzoom powerhouse with humble user controls, catering to the casual shooter who anticipates distant subjects and macro curiosity. The Panasonic Lumix FX700 is a more hands-on enthusiast tool with faster speeds and modestly better image control, fit for those who value optics sharpness and portability alongside manual freedoms.

If your budget is tight and zoom reach paramount, Olympus is an absolute cheat code. If you prefer nimble precision, image quality subtleties, and video, Panasonic’s FX700 checks those boxes more thoroughly.

Both require modest expectations about the limits of small-sensor compacts, especially in low light and dynamic range. Consequently, they serve best as everyday companions rather than dedicated professional tools.

Happy shooting!

This article is based on comprehensive hands-on testing of both cameras, industry-standard imaging benchmarks, and real-world shooting experience across diverse environments.