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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 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
  • Revealed March 2011
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS8, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is fairly similar and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 4 months earlier than the ZS8 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the ZS8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Panasonic ZS8

 SZ-30MR ZS8 
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 ZS8 SZ-30MR 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS8

 SZ-30MR ZS8 
RevealedMarch 2011July 2011Similar age
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR features physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the ZS8.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and ZS8 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by going over specs. The picture underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and ZS8.

All in all, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-30MR to offer you greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography advice
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
30
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Panasonic ZS8
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography highlights
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than others (226g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition in class (210 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography highlights
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery power (220 shots)
no Timelapse mode
44
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging features
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone support
30
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus SZ-30MRPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-03-02 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech 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 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 210 gr (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 photos 340 photos
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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $279 $275