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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus SZ-11 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 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
  • Introduced March 2009
Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-30 and Olympus SZ-11, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the SZ-11 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was introduced 3 years before the SZ-11 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-30 scores vs the SZ-11 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus SZ-11

 E-30 SZ-11 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Olympus E-30

 SZ-11 E-30 
LaunchedJuly 2011March 2009Newer by 28 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus SZ-11

 E-30 SZ-11 
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 offers exterior 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 SZ-11 has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-30 and Olympus SZ-11 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-30 and the SZ-11.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and SZ-11 is 60 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through specifications. The pic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and SZ-11.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-30 using its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus SZ-11 will result in greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography advice
Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Street photography camera
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography details
Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography details
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (750 per charge)
43
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Travel photography camera
49
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
bad battery life (750 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography advice
52
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery life (750 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
40
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging highlights
18
no video shooting
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than average (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SZ-11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus SZ-11
 Olympus E-30Olympus SZ-11
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus SZ-11
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-03-24 2011-07-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
Flash modes 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 synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
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 shots 200 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $1,299 $253