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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 LS5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 97 x 62 x 27mm
  • Announced July 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the LS5 (14MP) is pretty close and they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was released 4 months prior to the LS5 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SZ-30MR grades versus the LS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic LS5

 SZ-30MR LS5 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LS5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 LS5 SZ-30MR 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic LS5

 SZ-30MR LS5 
AnnouncedMarch 2011July 2011Same generation
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR features external 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 LS5 has proportions of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-30MR and the LS5.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and LS5 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The visual here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and LS5.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus SZ-30MR to render greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures much more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Panasonic LS5
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography advice
Panasonic LS5 Street photography advice
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (126 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LS5 Sports photography highlights
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 per charge)
no phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (160 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LS5 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
65
lighter than average in class (126g)
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (160 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Panasonic LS5
41
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
36
fairly wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery life (160 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging highlights
Panasonic LS5 Vlogging highlights
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
32
fairly wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic LS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic LS5
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-LS5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-03-02 2011-07-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 126 grams (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 62 x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 160 images
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID LI-50B 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $279 $294