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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 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 TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Older Model is Panasonic TS3
  • Successor is Panasonic TS5
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Panasonic TS4, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and TS4 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-30MR was manufactured 11 months earlier than the TS4 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SZ-30MR scores versus the TS4 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic TS4

 SZ-30MR TS4 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 TS4 SZ-30MR 
IntroducedJanuary 2012March 2011Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS4

 SZ-30MR TS4 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-30MR has got exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic TS4 has dimensions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Panasonic TS4 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-30MR and the TS4.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and TS4 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by checking specifications. The photograph here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and TS4.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus SZ-30MR to give extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography advice
Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography advice
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
21
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography details
Panasonic TS4 Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Panasonic TS4 Sports photography info
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery (310 CIPA)
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery power (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
66
great battery (310 shots)
weather sealing
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS4
41
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery power (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
41
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
great battery (310 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging details
Panasonic TS4 Vlogging details
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic support
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS4
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FT4
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2011-03-02 2012-01-31
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine FHD
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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-128mm (4.6x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 197g (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 310 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $279 $399