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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released August 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-510
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-520 versus Sony HX30V, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-520 was released 4 years prior to the HX30V which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-520 grades vs the HX30V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony HX30V

 E-520 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-520

 HX30V E-520 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012August 2008More modern by 42 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX30V

 E-520 HX30V 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 enjoys physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 versus Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-520 against the HX30V.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and HX30V is 68 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and HX30V.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-520 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Sony HX30V will render extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
45
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
has face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Sony HX30V Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography factors
Sony HX30V Sports photography factors
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery life (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography details
Sony HX30V Travel photography details
52
good battery life (650 per charge)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
low resolution (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography info
Sony HX30V Landscape photography info
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (650 shots)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
50
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
9
no video shooting
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-08-20 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 10MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 shots 320 shots
Style of battery 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 feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $400 $420