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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Introduced March 2009
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Here is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-M5 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was brought out 4 years earlier than the E-M5 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-30 grades versus the E-M5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-30 E-M5 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-30

 E-M5 E-30 
LaunchedApril 2012March 2009Fresher by 37 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-M5

 E-30 E-M5 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 enjoys physical measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Olympus E-M5 has measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-30 against the E-M5.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and E-M5 is 60 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing specifications. The visual underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and E-M5.

Plainly, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus E-M5 to result in greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Olympus E-M5
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography details
Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
49
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery pack (750 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
66
weather proof
supports focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography information
52
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery pack (750 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging features
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
18
can't record video
34
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-M5
 Olympus E-30Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-03-24 2012-04-30
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
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
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 610k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.58x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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 Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 pounds) 425 grams (0.94 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 71
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.3
DXO Low light score 530 826
Other
Battery life 750 shots 360 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,299 $799