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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 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
  • Released March 2009
Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL7
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus E-PL6, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are built by Olympus. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-PL6 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was announced 6 years prior to the E-PL6 which is quite a significant difference as far as 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-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-30 matches up vs the E-PL6 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-PL6

 E-30 E-PL6 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus E-30

 E-PL6 E-30 
RevealedAugust 2014March 2009Newer by 65 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL6

 E-30 E-PL6 
Focus manually More exact focus
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 offers physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL6 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

See the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus E-PL6 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-30 against the E-PL6.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and E-PL6 is 60 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The image here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and E-PL6.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus E-PL6 to give greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-30 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography info
59
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Olympus E-PL6
72
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography features
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography highlights
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (750 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
85
features touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography advice
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery pack (750 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging details
18
can't shoot video
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL6
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-PL6
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-PL6
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-03-24 2014-08-01
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 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 support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings 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, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 - MPEG-4, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 325g (0.72 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 360 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,299 $300