Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS30

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and ZS30 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-2 iHS was released at a similar time to the ZS30 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the XZ-2 iHS grades vs the ZS30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30. The complete galleries are available at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery and Panasonic ZS30 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS offers physical dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the XZ-2 iHS against the ZS30.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and ZS30 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to see the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The picture below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS because of its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic ZS30 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively.