Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic ZS30

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic ZS30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and ZS30 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was brought out 23 months earlier than the ZS30 which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the XZ-1 scores versus the ZS30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery & Panasonic ZS30 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-1 provides exterior measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic ZS30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the XZ-1 vs the ZS30.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and ZS30 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Normally, it's hard to see the gap in sensor sizes just by seeing specifications. The pic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-1 and ZS30.

Plainly, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-1 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic ZS30 will show extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged XZ-1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.