Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus SP-800 UZ, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the SP-800 UZ (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-30 was released 10 months before the SP-800 UZ which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-30 grades versus the SP-800 UZ with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-30 and Olympus SP-800 UZ. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-30 Gallery and Olympus SP-800 UZ Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 comes with physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-800 UZ has specifications of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") along with a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus SP-800 UZ in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-30 and the SP-800 UZ.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and SP-800 UZ is 60 and 69 respectively.

Generally, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and SP-800 UZ.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-30 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus SP-800 UZ will show greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.