Olympus
SZ-30MR
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
ZS20

Updated (January, 2013): Compare the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZS30/TZ40

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

89

  
Olympus SZ-30MR

59

  

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix ZS20

GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 
Runner-up

Olympus SZ-30MR

Reasons to buy the Olympus SZ-30MR

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/3.0
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus SZ-30MR
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.0 vs f/3.3
Help
 At its widest zoom, the SZ-30MR's lens captures marginally more light (0.3 f-stops)
Zoom More zoom 24x vs 20x
Help
 More than 40% more zoom
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.7 MP vs 9.6 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Olympus SZ-30MR Learn more about
the Olympus SZ-30MR

Advantages of the Panasonic ZS20
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 220 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Wide angle Slightly better wide angle 24 mm vs 25 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Digital, Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 105x59x28 mm vs 106x69x40 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.6"
Help
 30% thinner
Weight Slightly lighter 206 g vs 246 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $299.00 vs $376.03
Help
 The best price we've seen is $77 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 4s
Help
 Around 4x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/2000s vs 1/1700s
Help
 More than 10% faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Learn more about
the Panasonic ZS20
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Olympus SZ-30MR Olympus SZ-30MR
59 vs 89
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20.

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

Compared to recent travel zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
6,400 ISO

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic ZS30/TZ40

Panasonic Lumix ZS30

Travel zoom

$399
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Lumix ZS30 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Lumix ZS30 vs the Lumix ZS20
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$238 - $269
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Lumix ZS20
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Travel zoom

$300 - $378
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs the Lumix ZS20
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much longer exposures
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the Lumix ZS20
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Olympus SZ-31MR

Travel zoom

$254 - $280
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the SZ-31MR vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the SZ-31MR vs the Lumix ZS20
Nikon Coolpix S9300

Nikon Coolpix S9300

Travel zoom

$204 - $360
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix S9300 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Coolpix S9300 vs the Lumix ZS20
Nikon Coolpix L820

Nikon Coolpix L820

Super zoom

$277
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Coolpix L820 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Coolpix L820 vs the Lumix ZS20

Olympus SZ-30MR Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus SZ-14

Olympus SZ-14

Digicam

$203 - $304
3D Takes 3D photos
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the SZ-14 vs the SZ-30MR
Olympus SP-720UZ

Olympus 720UZ

Super zoom

$179 - $199
3D Takes 3D photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Compare the 720UZ vs the SZ-30MR

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S9500

Nikon Coolpix S9500

Travel zoom

$327
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Zoom Slightly more zoom
Touch screen No touch screen
Wide angle Slightly worse wide angle
Compare the Coolpix S9500 vs the Lumix ZS20
Panasonic TZ35/ZS25

Panasonic Lumix ZS25

Travel zoom

$298 - $300
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution
GPS No built-in GPS
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Lumix ZS25 vs the Lumix ZS20
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15

Panasonic Lumix ZS15

Travel zoom
Longest exposure Much longer exposures
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution
GPS No built-in GPS
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix ZS15 vs the Lumix ZS20
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V

Travel zoom

$366
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen No touch screen
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V vs the Lumix ZS20

appearance

Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Olympus SZ-30MR Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

discussion

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