Olympus 1s vs Panasonic ZS30

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Olympus 1s and Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the 1s (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the 1s (1/1.7") and ZS30 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The 1s was introduced 2 years after the ZS30 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 1s being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the 1s grades vs the ZS30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 1s and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus 1s Gallery and Panasonic ZS30 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus 1s enjoys external measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Olympus 1s and Panasonic ZS30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the 1s against the ZS30.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1s and ZS30 is 79 and 92 respectively.

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The pic underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 1s and ZS30.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 1s having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS30 will offer greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern 1s provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.