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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Renewed by Olympus SH-3
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
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is fairly similar and both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was introduced 2 years after the ZS30 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SH-2 matches up against the ZS30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic ZS30

 SH-2 ZS30 
IntroducedMarch 2015January 2013More modern by 27 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus SH-2

 ZS30 SH-2 
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZS30

 SH-2 ZS30 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-2 comes with outer measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic ZS30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SH-2 compared to the ZS30.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and ZS30 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The picture here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and ZS30.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS30 to offer more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The younger SH-2 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
44
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
no manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
33
megapixel count good (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
lighter than average (271 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than competitors (198g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
offers tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
74
good battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than average (271g)
features focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competitors (198 grams)
provides touch focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (260 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-2
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
55
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (380 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
44
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging information
35
really wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (271 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
35
decently wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (198g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no mic socket
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-03-11 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
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 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 11.5 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 271g (0.60 pounds) 198g (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $399 $250