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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Updated by Olympus SH-3
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ20
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ40
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic LZ30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the LZ30 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was manufactured 2 years later than the LZ30 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SH-2 grades versus the LZ30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic LZ30

 SH-2 LZ30 
ReleasedMarch 2015January 2013More recent by 27 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Olympus SH-2

 LZ30 SH-2 

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic LZ30

 SH-2 LZ30 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-2 has outer measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ30 has proportions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic LZ30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SH-2 versus the LZ30.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and LZ30 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The visual here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-2 and LZ30.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical megapixels and you can expect similar quality of photographs however you will need to factor the age of the products into consideration. The younger SH-2 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ30
44
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
no manual focus
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
32
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography details
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography details
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
lighter than others (271g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
43
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competition (552 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography features
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery pack (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography information
74
good battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than others (271g)
supports focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (875mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (552 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography information
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (380 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
45
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good battery pack (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Vlogging camera
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (271g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
22
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
heavier than competition (552 grams)
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic LZ30
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-03-11 2013-01-07
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-875mm (35.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 552 grams (1.22 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
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 380 images 380 images
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery ID LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $399 $230