Clicky

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 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
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Launched April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-30 and Sony HX1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") possess different sensor measurements.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The E-30 was unveiled around the same time to the HX1 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-30 grades vs the HX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sony HX1

 E-30 HX1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-30

 HX1 E-30 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sony HX1

 E-30 HX1 
LaunchedMarch 2009April 2009Similar generation
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera, you should consider 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") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Sony HX1 has measurements of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-30 and Sony HX1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-30 versus the HX1.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and HX1 is 60 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over specs. The graphic here will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and HX1.

All in all, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-30 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-30 will offer more detail having an extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography features
Sony HX1 Portrait photography features
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
27
has manual focus
cannot use external flash
low MP (9MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography highlights
Sony HX1 Street photography highlights
72
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW files
heavier than average (544g)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Sports photography camera
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (750 per charge)
36
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low MP (9MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no phase detect AF
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography details
Sony HX1 Travel photography details
49
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (750 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
48
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (544g)
low MP (9 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery pack (750 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
39
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (9MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging factors
Sony HX1 Vlogging factors
18
no video recording
22
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1440 x 1080 resolution)
no mic jack
heavier than average (544 grams)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sony HX1
 Olympus E-30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-03-24 2009-04-22
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 9MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1440x1080
Video format - H.264
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 pounds) 544 gr (1.20 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $1,299 $47,999