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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus TG-870 versus Panasonic ZS30, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the TG-870 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is pretty similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The TG-870 was manufactured 3 years after the ZS30 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the TG-870 grades against the ZS30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Panasonic ZS30

 TG-870 ZS30 
IntroducedJanuary 2016January 2013Newer by 37 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus TG-870

 ZS30 TG-870 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic ZS30

 TG-870 ZS30 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus TG-870 offers outer dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS30 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Olympus TG-870 versus Panasonic ZS30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the TG-870 vs the ZS30.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the TG-870 and ZS30 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over a spec sheet. The image below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-870 and ZS30.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Panasonic ZS30 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher TG-870 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
36
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
33
MP count decent (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography info
65
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than others in class (221 grams)
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
lighter than average (198g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography factors
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery pack (300 per charge)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
69
great battery pack (300 CIPA)
environment sealing
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (21mm)
more heavy than others in class (221g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than average (198g)
offers touch to focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (260 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
50
rather wide (21mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
environment sealing
great battery pack (300 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (260 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-870 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging info
32
rather wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
more heavy than others in class (221g)
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (198 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus TG-870 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-870 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-01-06 2013-01-07
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 21-105mm (5.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.7 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 1600) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
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), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p) 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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 221 grams (0.49 lb) 198 grams (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 300 images 260 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $280 $250