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Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Introduced March 2009
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX20V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX50V
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-30 versus Sony HX30V, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was announced 3 years earlier than the HX30V which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-30 matches up against the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sony HX30V

 E-30 HX30V 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-30

 HX30V E-30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012March 2009Newer by 35 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sony HX30V

 E-30 HX30V 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 has external dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-30 versus Sony HX30V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-30 vs the HX30V.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and HX30V is 60 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The image here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and HX30V.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-30 having a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Sony HX30V will resolve extra detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged E-30 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18MP)
offers face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography info
Sony HX30V Street photography info
72
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Sony HX30V Sports photography features
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (750 CIPA)
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
49
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (750 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
69
lighter than average (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX30V Landscape photography advice
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (750 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
50
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging details
Sony HX30V Vlogging details
18
no video
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (254g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus E-30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-03-24 2012-02-28
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 320 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,299 $420