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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III 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
  • Announced March 2009
Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Successor is OM System OM-5
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are sold by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-M5 III (20MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-30 was manufactured 11 years prior to the E-M5 III which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-30 matches up against the E-M5 III with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-30 E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III E-30 
LaunchedOctober 2019March 2009More modern by 128 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 E-30 E-M5 III 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-30 has external dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 III has dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-30 compared to the E-M5 III.

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

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and E-M5 III is 60 and 80 respectively.

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

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The image below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and E-M5 III.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M5 III to offer extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III 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 III
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
77
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography information
Olympus E-M5 III Street photography information
72
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
83
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch focus
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography details
Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography details
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery power (750 shots)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
bad battery power (310 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography advice
49
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
bad battery power (750 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
77
environment proof
has bluetooth
supports touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery power (310 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery power (750 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery power (310 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
18
no video shooting
84
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-M5 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-M5 III
 Olympus E-30Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2009-03-24 2019-10-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
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
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 121
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.68x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 30.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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 Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 4096x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 lb) 414g (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 pictures 310 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported)
Card slots One One
Launch price $1,299 $1,199