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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed November 2003
  • Successor is Olympus E-3
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
  • Revealed March 2011
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus SZ-30MR, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-1 was released 8 years before the SZ-30MR which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-1 grades against the SZ-30MR with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-1 SZ-30MR 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-1

 SZ-30MR E-1 
RevealedMarch 2011November 2003Newer by 88 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kSharper screen (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-1 SZ-30MR 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-1 has exterior dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-30MR has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus SZ-30MR in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-1 vs the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and SZ-30MR is 59 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading a spec sheet. The pic below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and SZ-30MR.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-1 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus SZ-30MR will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 11 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
46
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
low MP (5 megapixels)
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (735 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (5MP)
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-1
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
47
lighter than competition in class (735g)
weather proofing
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (5MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
65
lighter than competition (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery (220 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-1
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
46
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
small screen (1.8 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (5MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus E-1Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-1 Olympus SZ-30MR
Type Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2003-11-29 2011-03-02
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 2560 x 1920 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735 gr (1.62 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 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 - 220 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $1,700 $279