Clicky

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 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
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Launched July 2006
  • Replaced the Konica Minolta 5D
  • Successor is Sony A550
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-30 versus Sony A100, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is relatively comparable but the E-30 (Four Thirds) and A100 (APS-C) have different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-30 was announced 2 years after the A100 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-30 grades versus the A100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sony A100

 E-30 A100 
LaunchedMarch 2009July 2006More modern by 33 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus E-30

 A100 E-30 

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sony A100

 E-30 A100 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 enjoys outer measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Sony A100 has specifications of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 versus Sony A100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-30 compared to the A100.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and A100 is 60 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The picture underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and A100.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-30 will produce extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger E-30 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography features
Sony A100 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
53
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography highlights
Sony A100 Street photography highlights
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Sony A100
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery power (750 CIPA)
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Sony A100
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (750 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
45
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A100 Landscape photography highlights
52
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (750 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
53
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Sony A100 Vlogging advice
18
can't record video
9
can't shoot video
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sony A100
 Olympus E-30Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-03-24 2006-07-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.5"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
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 695g (1.53 pounds) 638g (1.41 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 61
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.2
DXO Low light score 530 476
Other
Battery life 750 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $1,299 $1,000