Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20
Portability
89 Imaging
38 Features
39 Overall
38
89 Imaging
38 Features
39 Overall
38
Portability
92 Imaging
37 Features
46 Overall
40
92 Imaging
37 Features
46 Overall
40
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
(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
- Announced March 2011
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
- 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
- Launched April 2012
- Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
- Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
- Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
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On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe SZ-30MR was unveiled 14 months earlier than the ZS20 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).
Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-30MR grades vs the ZS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Photography Glossary Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-30MR & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-30MR Gallery & Panasonic ZS20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic ZS20
| SZ-30MR | ZS20 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus SZ-30MR
| ZS20 | SZ-30MR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | April 2012 |  | March 2011 | More recent by 14 months |
| Touch display |  | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS20
| SZ-30MR | ZS20 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually |  | No manual focusing | ||
| Display type | Fixed |  | Fixed | Fixed display |
| Display dimensions | 3" |  | 3" | Equal display size |
| Display resolution | 460k |  | 460k | Exact same display resolution |
| Selfie screen |  | Missing selfie screen |
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison
In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).
Check the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the ZS20.
Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and ZS20 is 89 and 92 respectively.
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison
Typically, its difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through specifications. The graphic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and ZS20.
To sum up, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-30MR to give more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder
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Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography information
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (206 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
lighter than competition (226g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
supports touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery (260 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery power (220 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery (260 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging features
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
reasonably wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications
| Olympus SZ-30MR | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Olympus | Panasonic |
| Model | Olympus SZ-30MR | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 |
| Alternative name | - | Lumix DMC-TZ30 |
| Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Superzoom |
| Announced | 2011-03-02 | 2012-04-26 |
| Body design | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | TruePic III+ | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| 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 megapixels | 14 megapixels |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Highest resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4320 x 3240 |
| Highest native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
| Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detection AF | ||
| Contract detection AF | ||
| Phase detection AF | ||
| Number of focus points | - | 23 |
| Cross focus points | - | - |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mounting type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
| Lens focal range | 25-600mm (24.0x) | 24-480mm (20.0x) |
| Largest aperture | f/3.0-6.9 | f/3.3-6.4 |
| Macro focus distance | 1cm | 3cm |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen sizing | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Screen resolution | 460 thousand dot | 460 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch friendly | ||
| Screen technology | TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | None |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 4 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/1700 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting speed | 2.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Custom WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash range | 4.00 m | 6.40 m |
| Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro |
| External flash | ||
| AEB | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| 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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) |
| Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video file format | MPEG-4 | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
| Mic jack | ||
| Headphone jack | ||
| 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 seal | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 226 gr (0.50 lb) | 206 gr (0.45 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") | 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 pictures | 260 pictures |
| Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | LI-50B | - |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
| Storage slots | Single | Single |
| Cost at launch | $279 | $349 |