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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Released March 2009
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Revealed April 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and A850 (25MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and A850 (Full frame) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-30 was unveiled 12 months earlier than the A850 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-30 matches up vs the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sony A850

 E-30 A850 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus E-30

 A850 E-30 
RevealedApril 2010March 2009More modern by 12 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sony A850

 E-30 A850 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 has got external 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 Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 in the all new Camera and 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 are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-30 versus the A850.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and A850 is 60 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The pic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and A850.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-30 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A850 will give you greater detail having an extra 13MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A850 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count high (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography info
Sony A850 Street photography info
72
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography highlights
Sony A850 Sports photography highlights
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 CIPA)
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count high (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A850 as a Travel photography camera
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse recording
low battery life (750 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
55
environment sealing
megapixel count high (25 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography features
Sony A850 Landscape photography features
52
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count high (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
no liveview feature
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A850 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video shooting
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sony A850
 Olympus E-30Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-03-24 2010-04-15
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 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 Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695g (1.53 pounds) 895g (1.97 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.2
DXO Low light score 530 1415
Other
Battery life 750 images 880 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail cost $1,299 $0