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Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 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
  • Revealed March 2009
Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced March 2016
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-30 versus Sony HX80, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and HX80 (18MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and HX80 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-30 was revealed 8 years prior to the HX80 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-30 grades vs the HX80 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Sony HX80

 E-30 HX80 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Olympus E-30

 HX80 E-30 
IntroducedMarch 2016March 2009More modern by 84 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Sony HX80

 E-30 HX80 
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 enjoys external measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Sony HX80 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 versus Sony HX80 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-30 and the HX80.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and HX80 is 60 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out technical specs. The picture here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and HX80.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX80 will produce extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Sony HX80
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
39
decent MP (18 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography factors
Sony HX80 Street photography factors
72
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
70
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Sony HX80
51
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 per charge)
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery pack (390 shots)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Sony HX80
49
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (750 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
76
good battery pack (390 shots)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
decent MP (18MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Sony HX80
52
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (750 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
49
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
good battery pack (390 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX80 as a Vlogging camera
18
no video shooting
75
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Sony HX80
 Olympus E-30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-03-24 2016-03-07
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 695 grams (1.53 pounds) 245 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 shots 390 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $1,299 $368