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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and both of them are created by Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-M1 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was manufactured 5 years prior to the E-M1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-30 scores versus the E-M1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-30 E-M1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-30

 E-M1 E-30 
RevealedOctober 2013March 2009Fresher by 55 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-M1

 E-30 E-M1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 comes with physical measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Olympus E-M1 has measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-30 vs the E-M1.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and E-M1 is 60 and 71 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The photograph below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and E-M1.

As you can see, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Olympus E-M1 to render greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320s)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Olympus E-M1
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than competitors (497g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (750 CIPA)
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography info
Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
bad battery life (750 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
65
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
weather proof
offers focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
bad battery life (350 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
52
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (750 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
18
no video
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
lighter than competitors (497g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-M1
 Olympus E-30Olympus OM-D E-M1
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus OM-D E-M1
Category Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2013-10-28
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ TruePIC VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/320 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 497 gr (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 73
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.7
DXO Low light score 530 757
Other
Battery life 750 images 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $1,299 $799