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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus SZ-10 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 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
  • Launched March 2009
Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched February 2011
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus SZ-10, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the SZ-10 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and SZ-10 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-30 was brought out 22 months before the SZ-10 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-30 grades vs the SZ-10 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus SZ-10

 E-30 SZ-10 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Olympus E-30

 SZ-10 E-30 
LaunchedFebruary 2011March 2009More recent by 22 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus SZ-10

 E-30 SZ-10 
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 comes with exterior dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-10 has proportions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus SZ-10 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-30 versus the SZ-10.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and SZ-10 is 60 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and SZ-10.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-30 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-10 will render greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography information
Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography information
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-10 Street photography information
72
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (215g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography features
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
40
incredible zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
49
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (750 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
65
lighter than others (215g)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography features
52
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
40
really wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-10
18
no video
31
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than others (215 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus SZ-10
 Olympus E-30Olympus SZ-10
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-30 Olympus SZ-10
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-03-24 2011-02-08
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-504mm (18.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-4.4
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 lbs) 215g (0.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 images 220 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $1,299 $300