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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-2
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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ20
  • Refreshed by Panasonic LZ40
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Following is a in depth overview of the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ30, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the LZ30 (16MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was announced 3 years after the LZ30 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SH-3 scores versus the LZ30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic LZ30

 SH-3 LZ30 
RevealedFebruary 2016January 2013More modern by 38 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Olympus SH-3

 LZ30 SH-3 

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ30

 SH-3 LZ30 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 features physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ30 has sizing of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the SH-3 versus the LZ30.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and LZ30 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The picture here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-3 and LZ30.

To sum up, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of files but you would want to consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern SH-3 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Portrait photography camera
44
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
32
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography information
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
lighter than others (271g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than others in class (552g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography information
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
good battery (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography features
74
good battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than others (271 grams)
offers touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
better than average battery power (380 shots)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (875mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (552 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography advice
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
good battery (380 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
45
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging features
Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging features
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than others (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone support
22
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (552 grams)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LZ30
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-02-08 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-875mm (35.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lbs) 552 gr (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 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 380 pictures 380 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack AA
Battery model LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $579 $230