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Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
68
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36
Kodak EasyShare Z980 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
39
Overall
38

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Kodak Z980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 445g - 124 x 91 x 105mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released March 2011
Photography Glossary

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Let's look more closely at the Kodak Z980 and Olympus SZ-30MR, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Kodak and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the Z980 (12MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The Z980 was released 3 years prior to the SZ-30MR which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the Z980 grades against the SZ-30MR in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Kodak Z980 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 Z980 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Kodak Z980

 SZ-30MR Z980 
ReleasedMarch 2011January 2009More modern by 26 months
Screen resolution460k201kCrisper screen (+259k dot)

Common features in the Kodak Z980 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 Z980 SZ-30MR 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Kodak Z980 provides physical measurements of 124mm x 91mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 4.1") with a weight of 445 grams (0.98 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-30MR has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Kodak Z980 and Olympus SZ-30MR in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the Z980 against the SZ-30MR.

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the Z980 and SZ-30MR is 68 and 89 respectively.

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The pic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the Z980 and SZ-30MR.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus SZ-30MR to result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged Z980 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Kodak Z980 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
40
you can focus manually
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Kodak Z980
Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
54
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Kodak Z980 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
33
excellent zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Kodak Z980
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
51
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
great reach (624mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Kodak Z980 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
45
you can focus manually
quite wide (26mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse mode
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Kodak Z980
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
23
quite wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone port
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Kodak Z980 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak Z980 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Kodak EasyShare Z980Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Company Kodak Olympus
Model Kodak EasyShare Z980 Olympus SZ-30MR
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-05 2011-03-02
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 10cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 201k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 16s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 445 grams (0.98 lb) 226 grams (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 91 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 4.1") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $249 $279