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Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix S9700 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
39
Overall
38

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Nikon S9700
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-750mm (F3.7-6.4) lens
  • 232g - 110 x 64 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Older Model is Nikon S9500
  • Newer Model is Nikon S9900
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
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Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Nikon S9700 and Olympus SZ-30MR, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. The resolution of the S9700 (16MP) and the SZ-30MR (16MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S9700 was introduced 2 years later than the SZ-30MR and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the S9700 scores versus the SZ-30MR in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9700 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 S9700 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedFebruary 2014March 2011Fresher by 36 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Nikon S9700

 SZ-30MR S9700 

Common features in the Nikon S9700 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 S9700 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S9700 has outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-30MR has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S9700 and Olympus SZ-30MR in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the S9700 and the SZ-30MR.

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the S9700 and SZ-30MR is 90 and 89 respectively.

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing specifications. The photograph below should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S9700 and SZ-30MR.

Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of photos but you have to consider the age of the cameras into account. The fresher S9700 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9700 Portrait photography advice
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography advice
37
good MP (16MP)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9700 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (232 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9700 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
53
incredible zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9700 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography information
69
lighter than competitors (232g)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (750mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.7)
65
lighter than competitors (226g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9700 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
45
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.7)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
40
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery (220 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9700 Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging factors
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (232g)
slow max aperture (f3.7)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Nikon S9700 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9700 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Nikon Coolpix S9700Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9700 Olympus SZ-30MR
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-02-07 2011-03-02
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 99 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-750mm (30.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.7-6.4 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1700s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 4.00 m
Flash options TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30/25p, 60/50i) 1280 x 720 (60/50/30/25/15/12.5p) 960 x 540 (30/25p) 640 x 480 (120/30/25p) 320 x 240 (240p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 232g (0.51 pounds) 226g (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 220 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL12 LI-50B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $350 $279