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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-100 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-100 was introduced 13 months after the ZS30 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SP-100 grades vs the ZS30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Panasonic ZS30

 SP-100 ZS30 
IntroducedJanuary 2014January 2013More modern by 13 months
Manual focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus SP-100

 ZS30 SP-100 
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS30

 SP-100 ZS30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-100 has exterior measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") along with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SP-100 and the ZS30.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-100 and ZS30 is 63 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-100 and ZS30.

As you can see, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic ZS30 to resolve more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The newer SP-100 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography advice
44
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
comes with face detect focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
33
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography highlights
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (594 grams)
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-100
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
53
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography information
53
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (594g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
69
lighter than competition in class (198g)
offers touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-100
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
47
has manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (260 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging information
29
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone support
sluggish max aperture (f2.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (594g)
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-01-29 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920 thousand dot -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Red Eye 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 (60p), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 594 gr (1.31 pounds) 198 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 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 330 photos 260 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $400 $250