Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

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.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-5 and Olympus SZ-30MR. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-5 Gallery and Olympus SZ-30MR Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.