Olympus E-30 vs Samsung NX30

Below is a thorough review of the Olympus E-30 and Samsung NX30, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and NX30 (20MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and NX30 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-30 was released 5 years prior to the NX30 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-30 grades against the NX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-30 and Samsung NX30. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-30 Gallery and Samsung NX30 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 comes with outer measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX30 has measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-30 and Samsung NX30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-30 against the NX30.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and NX30 is 60 and 75 respectively.

Typically, it is tough to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and NX30.

Clearly, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-30 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Samsung NX30 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.