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Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Olympus FE-4000 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus FE-4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Alternative Name is X-925
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
  • Announced March 2011
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Olympus FE-4000 and Olympus SZ-30MR, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the FE-4000 (12MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-4000 was manufactured 19 months earlier than the SZ-30MR which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the FE-4000 matches up versus the SZ-30MR with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4000 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 FE-4000 SZ-30MR 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus FE-4000

 SZ-30MR FE-4000 
AnnouncedMarch 2011July 2009More recent by 19 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-4000 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 FE-4000 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-4000 enjoys outside measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-30MR has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus FE-4000 and Olympus SZ-30MR in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the FE-4000 vs the SZ-30MR.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-4000 and SZ-30MR is 95 and 89 respectively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-4000 and SZ-30MR.

Clearly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus SZ-30MR to show more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older FE-4000 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus FE-4000
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography highlights
55
lighter than competition in class (136g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography features
17
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
62
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
28
quite wide (26mm)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
41
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (26mm)
lighter than competition in class (136g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4000 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus FE-4000Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus FE-4000 Olympus SZ-30MR
Also called as X-925 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-07-22 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-105mm (4.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/2.6-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 136 gr (0.30 pounds) 226 gr (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $130 $279