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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Released March 2011
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic GF5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and GF5 (12MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 13 months prior to the GF5 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ-30MR grades vs the GF5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic GF5

 SZ-30MR GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 GF5 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedApril 2012March 2011Newer by 13 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic GF5

 SZ-30MR GF5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR features physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic GF5 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic GF5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-30MR and the GF5.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and GF5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The image below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and GF5.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-30MR with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus SZ-30MR will show greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
55
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Panasonic GF5
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
61
comes with focus by touch
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
59
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging factors
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging factors
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic port
32
touchscreen enabled
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-03-02 2012-04-05
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 267g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.0
DXO Low light score not tested 573
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 360 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $279 $600