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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 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
  • Revealed March 2009
Olympus E-PL8
(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
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus E-PL8, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are designed by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-PL8 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was revealed 8 years prior to the E-PL8 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-30 grades versus the E-PL8 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-30 E-PL8 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-30

 E-PL8 E-30 
RevealedSeptember 2016March 2009More modern by 91 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-30 E-PL8 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 offers external 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-PL8 has measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus E-PL8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-30 vs the E-PL8.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and E-PL8 is 60 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by researching specifications. The picture here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and E-PL8.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-PL8 to render extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography highlights
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
72
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL8 Street photography details
72
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 shots)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography features
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery life (750 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
71
offers touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
52
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
18
no video
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 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
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
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 no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 695g (1.53 lb) 357g (0.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
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 photos 350 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,299 $500