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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-145 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Olympus VG-145
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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
  • Released January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the VG-145 (14MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VG-145 was brought out 17 months earlier than the ZS30 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the VG-145 grades vs the ZS30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Panasonic ZS30

 VG-145 ZS30 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Olympus VG-145

 ZS30 VG-145 
ReleasedJanuary 2013July 2011More recent by 17 months
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZS30

 VG-145 ZS30 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus VG-145 features physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 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).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the VG-145 against the ZS30.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-145 and ZS30 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specs. The visual below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-145 and ZS30.

All in all, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic ZS30 to offer you more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older VG-145 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
33
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography features
48
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
lighter than average (198 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
26
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (160 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (260 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
62
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (160 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than average (198 grams)
includes touch focus
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (260 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography highlights
36
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery pack (160 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery life (260 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
28
pretty wide (26mm)
includes face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic port
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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZS30
 Olympus VG-145Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-145 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-07-27 2013-01-07
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120g (0.26 lbs) 198g (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 160 shots 260 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $250