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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 front
Portability
72
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Panasonic FZ28
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 27-486mm (F2.8-4.4) lens
  • 417g - 118 x 75 x 89mm
  • Released January 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ28, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and FZ28 (10MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was unveiled 2 years after the FZ28 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SZ-30MR matches up vs the FZ28 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic FZ28

 SZ-30MR FZ28 
ReleasedMarch 2011January 2009Newer by 26 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ28 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 FZ28 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ28

 SZ-30MR FZ28 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you should think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR has exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ28 has sizing of 118mm x 75mm x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5") with a weight of 417 grams (0.92 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ28 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the FZ28.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and FZ28 is 89 and 72 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and FZ28.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-30MR to resolve more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer SZ-30MR provides an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography info
Panasonic FZ28 Portrait photography info
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
35
has manual focus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Panasonic FZ28 Street photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ28 Sports photography details
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
33
amazing zoom range (27-486mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography details
Panasonic FZ28 Travel photography details
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
has built in flash
really wide (27mm)
long zoom (486mm)
missing Timelapse function
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ28
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
40
has manual focus
really wide (27mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ28 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
24
really wide (27mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic FZ28 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic FZ28
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-03-02 2009-01-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 27-486mm (18.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-4.4
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 8.50 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
Hot shoe
AEB
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, 848 x 480, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 @ 30fps, 320 x 240 @ 10fps
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 -
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 417 gr (0.92 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 118 x 75 x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 27
DXO Color Depth score not tested 17.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 79
Other
Battery life 220 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $279 $599