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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Announced March 2011
Panasonic ZS20
(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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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

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").

Photography Glossary

The 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.

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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 
LaunchedApril 2012March 2011More 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 typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kExact 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
34
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
30
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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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
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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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
41
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
47
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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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
65
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)
68
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 Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
41
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
42
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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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging features
34
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
34
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

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic 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