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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-2
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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-3 was brought out 3 years later than the ZS30 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the SH-3 scores against the ZS30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic ZS30

 SH-3 ZS30 
RevealedFebruary 2016January 2013More recent by 38 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus SH-3

 ZS30 SH-3 
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic ZS30

 SH-3 ZS30 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 provides external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic ZS30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SH-3 against the ZS30.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and ZS30 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and ZS30.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS30 to result in greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos more aggressively. The younger SH-3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
44
decent MP (16MP)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
33
MP count good (18MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competition (271 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
66
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than others in class (198 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
74
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than others in class (198 grams)
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (18MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery power (260 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography highlights
55
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
44
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery power (260 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging factors
35
really wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (271g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone port
35
quite wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (198g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-02-08 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
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 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shooting speed 11.5fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 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)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 198 grams (0.44 lbs)
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 All around 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 shots 260 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $579 $250