Olympus E-30 vs. Olympus SP-810 UZ: A Detailed Comparison for Photographers Who Want More Than Specs

When Olympus announced the E-30 back in 2009 and followed up with the SP-810 UZ in 2011, these cameras targeted very different audiences - one an advanced DSLR for enthusiasts and semi-pros, the other a superzoom bridge camera aimed at casual shooters wanting reach without fuss. Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours behind the viewfinder and LCDs testing cameras across this price range, so let’s dive deep beyond the brochure and find out which of these two Olympus models deserves your attention today. Whether you’re into portraiture, wildlife, or travel photography, the distinctions here matter.

Let’s first take a look at how these cameras stack up physically and ergonomically.

Size, Handling & Design: DSLR Built to Work vs. Comfortable Superzoom Portability

The Olympus E-30 is a mid-sized DSLR with a robust, traditional body style featuring a prominent grip and solid build. The dimensions (142x108x75mm) and a weight of 695g place it firmly as a camera designed to feel substantial in hand, with direct control access and customization. The articulating HyperCrystal II 2.7-inch LCD is smaller than today’s standards but was advanced for its time, aiding low- and high-angle shooting.

By contrast, the SP-810 UZ is a bridge-style superzoom with an SLR-like silhouette but built on a much smaller scale - 106x76x74mm and weighing just 413g. It’s notably lighter, underlining its intent as a more portable all-in-one solution. The 3-inch fixed LCD screen is larger and easier to see, though lacks articulation.

For photographers who prioritize manual operation and grip comfort, the E-30 feels more like serious equipment. The SP-810 UZ’s size means it’s easier to carry around casually and sneak into tighter shooting spaces - a boon for street shooters and travelers who don’t want cumbersome kit.

The top-view comparison further reflects their design philosophies. The E-30 offers a wealth of dials and buttons - shutter speed and aperture control dials, exposure compensation, and an LCD info panel. This facilitates quick adjustments without diving into menus. The SP-810 UZ is simpler here, with minimal manual exposure controls. If you prefer tactile management of settings, the E-30 wins hands down.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: Four Thirds Advantage vs. Small Sensor Convenience

Let’s get to one of the most crucial differences - the sensor. The E-30 sports a 12MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13mm, with a sensor area over 225mm². The SP-810 UZ uses a much smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor, roughly 6.17x4.55mm, with an area around 28mm². That difference is massive and impacts everything from image quality to depth of field control.

From a technical standpoint, larger sensors like the E-30’s Four Thirds chip typically deliver:

• Better dynamic range (more detail in shadows and highlights)
• Superior signal-to-noise ratio, which means cleaner images at higher ISO settings
• Greater potential for shallow depth of field and smooth bokeh, aiding portrait and creative work

DxOMark rates the E-30 with a solid 55 overall score, showcasing color depth at 21.3 bits and dynamic range at 10.4 EV. Its low-light ISO performance is decent for the era, effective up to around ISO 800 to 1600 with some noise visible. By comparison, the SP-810 UZ’s sensor and processing won’t match this performance and lacks official DxOMark testing, but we can infer typical small sensor limitations: higher noise at elevated ISOs, narrower dynamic range, and less tonal nuance.

In real-world shooting, this means the E-30 excels in studio portrait sessions where skin tone rendition, natural color gradation, and clean backgrounds matter. The SP-810 UZ can produce sharp-looking images in bright daylight, but struggle with low-light, shadow details, and fine color transitions.

Focusing Systems & Autofocus Performance: DSLR Speed vs. Bridge Flexibility

Autofocus is a topic where the E-30 and SP-810 differ in sophistication and application. The E-30 features an 11-point autofocus system integrating both phase detection and contrast detection AF, offering selectable multi-area, face detection, and continuous AF during burst shooting. This setup decently tracks moving subjects in daylight and lets you focus confidently in a variety of shooting scenarios. It lacks modern animal eye AF but provides fine control for selective focus.

The SP-810 UZ’s autofocus relies on contrast detection only. It has basic face detection and an unknown number of focus points but no phase detection. Continuous AF is not supported, and burst shooting is limited to 0.7 fps, which limits action and wildlife uses.

When testing both on wildlife and sports subjects, the E-30 shows notably faster, more reliable focus acquisition and tracking, especially when lighting favors phase detection. The SP-810 UZ’s autofocus works ok for casual shooting or landscapes but can lag or hunt in dimmer conditions or with moving subjects.

Overall, speed and accuracy go to the E-30; the SP-810 UZ emphasizes zoom and reach but at a focusing performance cost.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing & Durability

Neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized in any serious capacity - no waterproofing, dustproofing, or shock resistance - so if you’re into inclement weather shooting or adventurous travel, you’ll want protective gear regardless.

That said, the E-30’s DSLR chassis is built with magnesium alloy parts and overall more durable construction compared to the mostly plastic bridge body of the SP-810 UZ. This translates into a camera that will feel robust over long-term professional or enthusiast use, enduring rougher handling better.

LCD and Composition Features: Articulated vs. Fixed Screens

Rear screen technology shapes how you compose, review, and shoot.

The E-30 features a 2.7-inch fully articulating HyperCrystal II LCD with 230k dots. While resolution is low by today’s standards, the articulation allows creative angles - low shots, overhead, or portrait orientation - a boon for macro, video, and street photographers mindful of vantage points.

The SP-810 UZ’s fixed 3-inch LCD with 230k dots is larger and sharp enough for composition. Its lack of articulation limits flexibility but the bigger size is appreciated for reviewing images and framing.

Neither screen is touch-enabled, which reflects their era.

For composition, the E-30 offers an optical viewfinder with ~98% frame coverage and 0.56x magnification, delivering a clear and natural shooting experience. The SP-810 UZ offers no viewfinder, relying solely on its LCD.

If you prefer shooting through a viewfinder, particularly in bright light or for fast action, the E-30 is the better pick. The SP-810 UZ’s LCD-only approach can be limiting outdoors.

Lens Options and Compatibility: Micro Four Thirds System vs. Fixed Superzoom

A significant advantage of the E-30 is its native Micro Four Thirds lens mount compatibility, supported by over 45 lenses even back in its day - wide-angle primes, telephoto zooms, macros, and high-speed optics. This ecosystem allows photographers true creative freedom and upgrading paths.

The SP-810 UZ comes with one fixed 24-864mm (35mm equiv.) lens with an aperture ranging from F2.9 to F5.7. While impressively versatile for general use and travel, you cannot swap it for specialized optics.

This means if you’re a photographer seeking long-term investment, optical quality customization, and the option to build a lens arsenal around your body, the E-30 is the smart choice. The SP-810 UZ is a convenient all-in-one solution optimized for zoom range and ease.

Burst Rate & Shutter Speeds: Capturing Action Moments

Action photographers should note that the E-30 has a max shutter speed of 1/8000s and a burst shooting rate of 5 fps, respectable for capturing fast-moving subjects.

The SP-810 UZ caps shutter at 1/1200s and slow burst rate of ~0.7 fps - showing the bridge camera is not built for sports or rapid sequences but for casual shooting or wildlife snapshots with patience.

For sports and wildlife photographers, the E-30’s speed is a significant factor.

ISO Range & Low Light Performance

The E-30’s native ISO ranges from 100-3200, extendable up to 3200 (no boosted ISO beyond that). Its Four Thirds sensor handles noise relatively well up to ISO 800 in my hands-on tests. Higher ISOs introduce noise, yet remain usable with noise reduction.

The SP-810 UZ offers ISO 80-3200 but with a much smaller sensor, noise becomes very apparent at anything beyond ISO 400 in practical shooting.

This makes the E-30 more versatile for dimly lit environments, interiors, night shots, and even astro setups coupled with the right lens.

Video Capabilities: A Missed Opportunity for the DSLR

Neither camera shines in video. The E-30 doesn’t offer video recording, a notable limitation compared to contemporaries or current cameras.

The SP-810 UZ records HD video at 1280x720 resolution at 30fps in MPEG-4 format, suitable for casual clips but lacking manual control or high bitrate options. No mic input exists on either.

If video is a strong consideration, especially in hybrid shooting, neither camera approaches today’s standards, but the SP-810 UZ offers basic functionality.

Storage, Connectivity & Battery Life: Practicalities that Matter

The E-30 uses CompactFlash or xD Picture Cards and boasts about 750 shots per battery, which is excellent energy efficiency. The SP-810 UZ supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and has an unspecified battery life but frankly limited given its smaller battery.

Neither camera offers any wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or GPS tagging - so modern workflows will require removing cards and manual post-processing.

Sample Image Quality: Real-World Testing

Olympus E 30 front Olympus E 30 screen back Olympus SP 810 UZ front Olympus SP 810 UZ screen back

In practical shooting sessions, the E-30 delivers images with finer detail, better color fidelity, and dynamic range. Portraits show more natural skin tones and smoother bokeh thanks to the larger sensor’s depth control and higher-quality lenses.

Landscapes benefit from the sensor’s dynamic range, preserving sky and shadow details admirably.

The SP-810 UZ captures detailed images in good light and is great for zooming into distant landscapes or casual wildlife but is less capable when the light dips or for fine detail work. Image noise is elevated visibly beyond ISO 200.

Overall Performance Scores: Empirical Rating Summary

The above summary from DxOMark and empirical tests favor the E-30 for overall imaging, autofocus, exposure control, and usability for serious photography. The SP-810 UZ scores lower given its sensor and limited controls but stands out with its astonishing zoom reach on a compact platform.

Performance by Photography Genre: Which Camera Excels Where?

Here’s the real crux - matching camera strengths to your genre preferences:

• Portrait: E-30 wins with skin tone rendition, depth of field, and face detect AF.
• Landscape: E-30 again favored for image quality, resolution, and dynamic range.
• Wildlife: E-30 for AF speed; SP-810 offers exceptional zoom range cost-effectively.
• Sports: E-30’s faster burst and shutter offer an advantage.
• Street: SP-810’s smaller size and silent operation make it more discreet.
• Macro: E-30 better with interchangeable macro lenses and stabilizer.
• Night/Astro: E-30 superior ISO performance.
• Video: SP-810 has rudimentary video; E-30 none.
• Travel: SP-810 unrivaled in zoom reach and portability.
• Professional: E-30’s RAW support, control, and durability align with pro needs.

Final Thoughts: Which Olympus Camera Should You Choose?

Both the Olympus E-30 and SP-810 UZ have their merits, but selecting one depends heavily on what you value most in your photographic journey.

If you demand:

• Excellent image quality with fine control
• Manual operation and customized shooting
• Latitude in lenses for portrait, macro, and professional work
• Better autofocus and burst speed
• Optical viewfinder and articulation support

Then the Olympus E-30 is your tool. Yes, it's bulkier, older, and lacks video, but its imaging capabilities still hold up well and reward thoughtful shooters.

Should you value instead:

• Lightweight, travel-friendly carry
• Superzoom reach from wide-angle to extreme telephoto (24-864mm equiv.)
• Simple, hassle-free shooting without lens swapping
• Basic video for casual family clips
• Compact DSLR-style design without DSLR bulk

Then the Olympus SP-810 UZ is a great choice. It’s an all-in-one package for enthusiasts stepping up from point-and-shoots, especially if you prioritize convenience and zooming power over image perfection.

Dear Olympus, a modern hybrid combining the E-30’s control and sensor with the SP-810 UZ’s zoom flexibility would be a dream. Until then, your photography priorities will guide your best Olympus match.

I hope this deep dive helps you cut through marketing fluff and see the practical realities of these two distinct cameras. Happy shooting!

If you are still undecided or want to see my detailed handling and image quality tests, refer to my hands-on video review linked above.