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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-3
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Olympus. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was introduced at a similar time to the SZ-30MR which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-5 matches up against the SZ-30MR for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-5 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-5

 SZ-30MR E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-5 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedFebruary 2011March 2011Same generation
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 enjoys physical dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-30MR has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-5 compared to the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and SZ-30MR is 58 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and SZ-30MR.

Clearly, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-5 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-30MR will provide you with extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-5
Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
71
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography highlights
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography factors
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
56
weather sealing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery (220 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography factors
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
41
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
64
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
has mic jack
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
34
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus E-5Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-5 Olympus SZ-30MR
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-03 2011-03-02
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 images 220 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Dual 1
Launch price $1,700 $279