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Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
77 Imaging
45 Features
36 Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90 Imaging
42 Features
50 Overall
45

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
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
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-420 and Sony HX30V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was released 4 years earlier than the HX30V and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-420 matches up vs the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony HX30V

		

		

			
 E-420 HX30V 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-420

		

		

			
 HX30V E-420 
ReleasedFebruary 2012June 2008Fresher by 44 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony HX30V

		

		

			
 E-420 HX30V 
Manual focus  Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen  Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display  Neither comes with Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

		

		

			
If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 comes with outer measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).
See the Olympus E-420 and Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 versus the HX30V.
Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V size comparison
Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and HX30V is 77 and 90 respectively.
Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Often, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The photograph below may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and HX30V.
As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-420 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX30V will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.
	
			Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus E-420 Portrait photography information
Sony HX30V Portrait photography information
57
 focusing manually
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW files
 megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
45
 manual focus
 megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
 supports face detection autofocus
 external flash not possible
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-420 Street photography features
Sony HX30V Street photography features
64
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW files
 lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
 fixed screen
 does not have image stabilization
61
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
 screen is fixed
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
39
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 comes with phase detect autofocus
 painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
 does not have image stabilization
 megapixel count low (10MP)
 low battery power (500 CIPA)
49
 great zoom range (25-500mm  20.0 x zoom)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (18MP)
 supports tracking autofocus
 no shutter priority
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Sony HX30V
53
 lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
 has built in flash
 no Timelapse function
 low battery power (500 CIPA)
 megapixel count low (10MP)
 doesn't contain selfie friendly display
69
 lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
 megapixel count good (18MP)
 has built in flash
 quite wide (25mm)
 great zoom (500mm)
 doesn't have Time Lapse mode
 display isn't selfie friendly
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
Sony HX30V Landscape photography details
47
 focusing manually
 interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW files
 screen is somewhat small (2.7")
 does not have image stabilization
 megapixel count low (10MP)
 low battery power (500 shots)
 no Timelapse function
50
 manual focus
 quite wide (25mm)
 screen size is good (3 inch)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
 cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW format
 doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-420 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
9
 can't shoot video
34
 quite wide (25mm)
 has image stabilization (Optical)
 supports face detection autofocus
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus E-420Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-420 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-06-23 2012-02-28
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III BIONZ
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 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and  16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
Touch to focus    
Continuous AF    
AF single    
Tracking AF    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
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 file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack    
Headphone jack    
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
Environment seal    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 426g (0.94 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 images 320 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 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
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $999 $420