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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS45
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is fairly similar and both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was brought out 3 years earlier than the ZS40 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the ZS40 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic ZS40

 SZ-30MR ZS40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 ZS40 SZ-30MR 
RevealedJanuary 2014March 2011Newer by 34 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS40

 SZ-30MR ZS40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides external measurements 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 ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the ZS40.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and ZS40 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by reviewing technical specs. The image below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and ZS40.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS40 to offer more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography features
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
52
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
69
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (240g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS40
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS40
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery (220 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography highlights
41
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
56
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
saves RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging advice
34
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
34
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (240 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS40
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-03-02 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 240 grams (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 300 pictures
Battery type 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
Card slots One One
Launch cost $279 $450