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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2009
Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Launched February 2020
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M1 II
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III Overview

Following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Olympus. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-M1 III (20MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-30 was announced 12 years earlier than the E-M1 III which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-30 matches up versus the E-M1 III for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-30 E-M1 III 

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

 E-M1 III E-30 
LaunchedFebruary 2020March 2009More modern by 132 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 E-30 E-M1 III 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 enjoys outside dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Olympus E-M1 III has dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-30 compared to the E-M1 III.

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

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and E-M1 III is 60 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The pic here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and E-M1 III.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus E-M1 III to render more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography highlights
59
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography info
Olympus E-M1 III Street photography info
72
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
78
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
weather proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography advice
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
max fps high (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Olympus E-M1 III
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (750 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
79
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography advice
52
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery life (750 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
81
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging details
Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging details
18
lack of video recording
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M1 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-M1 III
 Olympus E-30Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-30 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Category Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2009-03-24 2020-02-11
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ TruePic IX
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 121
Cross type focus points - 121
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 60.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 4096x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lb) 580 grams (1.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 shots 420 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 BLH-1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot)
Storage slots One Two
Cost at launch $1,299 $1,800