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Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Old Model is Sigma SD1
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Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-30 versus Sigma SD1 Merrill, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is very well matched but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the SD1 Merrill which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-30 matches up vs the SD1 Merrill with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 E-30 SD1 Merrill 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Olympus E-30

 SD1 Merrill E-30 
LaunchedApril 2012March 2009More modern by 37 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 E-30 SD1 Merrill 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 comes with outer dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has sizing of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 versus Sigma SD1 Merrill in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-30 against the SD1 Merrill.

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and SD1 Merrill is 60 and 57 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and SD1 Merrill.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sigma SD1 Merrill will give you more detail having an extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Sigma SD1 Merrill
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
65
has manual focus
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Street photography camera
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography info
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
61
resolution is good (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography info
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography info
49
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (750 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
54
environment sealing
resolution is good (15MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography factors
Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography factors
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (750 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
63
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging information
Sigma SD1 Merrill Vlogging information
18
can't shoot video
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Olympus E-30Sigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sigma
Model type Olympus E-30 Sigma SD1 Merrill
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-03-24 2012-04-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Dual True II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4800 x 3200
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sigma SA
Available lenses 45 76
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds -
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695g (1.53 lbs) 790g (1.74 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,299 $2,339