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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 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 XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic XS1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the XS1 (16MP) is fairly similar and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was manufactured 22 months prior to the XS1 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SZ-30MR scores versus the XS1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic XS1

 SZ-30MR XS1 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 XS1 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedJanuary 2013March 2011Fresher by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic XS1

 SZ-30MR XS1 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR features exterior 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 XS1 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic XS1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the XS1.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and XS1 is 89 and 97 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing just by going over technical specs. The visual here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and XS1.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP so you should expect similar quality of pictures however you will need to take the production date of the products into consideration. The older SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography information
Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography information
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
30
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography details
Panasonic XS1 Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Panasonic XS1 Sports photography info
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
41
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (220 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography highlights
41
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
39
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
31
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103g)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic XS1
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-03-02 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 103 gr (0.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 260 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $279 $130