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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 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 A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Previous Model is Sony A100
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-30 was announced 3 years before the A580 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-30 scores vs the A580 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sony A580

 E-30 A580 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus E-30

 A580 E-30 
LaunchedMay 2011March 2009Newer by 26 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sony A580

 E-30 A580 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 offers physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Sony A580 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-30 and the A580.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and A580 is 60 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and A580.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-30 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A580 will render extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography details
Sony A580 Portrait photography details
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
73
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Street photography camera
Sony A580 as a Street photography camera
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
75
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography details
Sony A580 Sports photography details
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (750 shots)
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery (750 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
60
better than average battery life (1,050 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography information
Sony A580 Landscape photography information
52
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (750 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (1,050 per charge)
2 card slots
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging information
Sony A580 Vlogging information
18
no video
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sony A580
 Olympus E-30Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-03-24 2011-05-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lb) 599 gr (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.3
DXO Low light rating 530 1121
Other
Battery life 750 photos 1050 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Dual
Price at release $1,299 $848