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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20 Comparison

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Olympus SZ-30MR

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus SZ-30MR
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Panasonic TS20

16 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Panasonic TS20
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Olympus SZ-30MR, which was introduced in March 2011 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Panasonic TS20, which was introduced in January 2012 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. There is only 11 months difference between SZ-30MR and TS20 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-03-02
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 25-600 mm F3.0-6.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 2.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 226g. 106 x 69 x 40 mm

Panasonic TS20 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-01-31
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 25-100 mm F3.9-5.7 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 142g. 101 x 58 x 19 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Also known as Lumix DMC-FT20

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Olympus SZ-30MR over Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
460k dots vs 230k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/1700s vs 1/1300s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps 1 fps faster
Focal Length - Tele
600mm vs 100mm 500 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
24× vs 4× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.00 vs 3.90 faster lens at wide
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK SZ-30MR PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20 over Olympus SZ-30MR
Internal Storage
70 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Battery Life
250 shots vs 220 shots 30 more frames with a single charge
Weight
142 g vs 226 g 84 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 6.90 faster lens at tele
CHECK TS20 PRICE

Common Strengths of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size
2.70" vs 2.70" Small display
LCD Screen Resolution
460k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
2.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
Max Aperture - Tele
6.90 vs 5.70 Slow lenses at tele
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Olympus SZ-30MR has external dimensions of 106 x 69 x 40 mm (4.17 x 2.72 x 1.57″) and weighs 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic TS20 has external dimensions of 101 x 58 x 19 mm (3.98 x 2.28 x 0.75″) and weighs 142 g (0.31 lb / 5.01 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20. Panasonic TS20 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 5mm narrower, 11mm shorter and 21mm thinner than Olympus SZ-30MR.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20.
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic TS20 is significantly lighter (84g ) than the Olympus SZ-30MR which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

SZ-30MR
TS20
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

SZ-30MR
TS20
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of TS20, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to SZ-30MR.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Olympus SZ-30MR's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic TS20's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20: Sensor Comparison

Both Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 have 1/2.3-inch sized 16.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the SZ-30MR and TS20 sensor size comparison.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 Cameras


Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20 Lens Specs Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR features a 25-600 mm F3.0-6.9 24× zoom lens whereas Panasonic TS20 features a 25-100 mm F3.9-5.7 4× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 25mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.00, Olympus SZ-30MR is faster than Panasonic TS20 at this focal length. On the tele end, Olympus SZ-30MR has 500mm longer reach than the Panasonic TS20. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Panasonic TS20 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR
TS20
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR
TS20
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR
TS20
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR
TS20
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Olympus SZ-30MR for Portrait Photography

POOR

Panasonic TS20 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic TS20 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.90
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic TS20 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
600 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1700s
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.90
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
23 Focus Points
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1300s
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic TS20 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
226g
24.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 40mm
Read the details
Compact Body
142g
Body Thickness 19mm
Environmental Sealings
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic TS20 for Landscape Photography

POOR
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Environmental Sealings
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic TS20: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Olympus SZ-30MR and Panasonic TS20 scores compare:

Olympus SZ-30MR
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #226 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #845 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Panasonic TS20
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #254 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #891 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Olympus SZ-30MR has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic TS20 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Olympus SZ-30MR
Olympus SZ-30MR
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Panasonic TS20
Panasonic TS20
CHECK PRICE

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Panasonic TS20 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Announced 2011-03-02 2012-01-31
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CCD
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 28.07mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-600 mm (24×) 25-100 mm (4×)
Max Aperture F3.0-6.9 F3.9-5.7
Macro Focus Range 1cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 2.70"
Resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/1700s 1/1300s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m 4.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720
Video Formats MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 226g 142g
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm 101 x 58 x 19mm
Battery Life 220 shots 250 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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