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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Alternative Name is mju 550WP
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was introduced 5 years earlier than the ZS30 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 550WP matches up versus the ZS30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic ZS30

 550WP ZS30 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus 550WP

 ZS30 550WP 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013January 2009More modern by 48 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS30

 550WP ZS30 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus 550WP provides outside measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the 550WP versus the ZS30.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the 550WP and ZS30 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through specifications. The image below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and ZS30.

To sum up, each of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS30 to result in more detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively. The more aged 550WP will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
33
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 550WP
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment sealing
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
66
image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography information
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment sealing
low max shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
features tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200 seconds)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 550WP
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
55
environment sealing
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than competition in class (198g)
provides focus via touch
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography advice
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment sealing
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging highlights
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
35
quite wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus 550WP Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as mju 550WP Lumix DMC-TZ40
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-01-07 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 7cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 gr (0.37 lb) 198 gr (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $399 $250