Clicky

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-510
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus SZ-30MR, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-500 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the SZ-30MR and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-500 scores against the SZ-30MR in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-500 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-500

 SZ-30MR E-500 
ReleasedMarch 2011October 2005More recent by 65 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kCrisper display (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-500 SZ-30MR 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-30MR has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus SZ-30MR in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-500 against the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and SZ-30MR is 70 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing specifications. The visual underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and SZ-30MR.

To sum up, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-500 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus SZ-30MR will produce more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
48
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (8MP)
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography details
56
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (479g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography features
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
52
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
43
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging information
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging information
9
no video
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus E-500Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus SZ-30MR
Alternative name EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2005-10-21 2011-03-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD 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 8MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 400 3200
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 pounds) 226g (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $279