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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Released January 2009
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
  • Announced March 2011
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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus FE-45 and Olympus SZ-30MR, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was launched 3 years earlier than the SZ-30MR which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the FE-45 scores versus the SZ-30MR in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 FE-45 SZ-30MR 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus FE-45

 SZ-30MR FE-45 
AnnouncedMarch 2011January 2009More modern by 26 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 FE-45 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-45 enjoys outside dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-30MR has sizing 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 FE-45 and Olympus SZ-30MR in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-45 against the SZ-30MR.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FE-45 and SZ-30MR is 95 and 89 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The pic here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-45 and SZ-30MR.

As you can tell, both cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-30MR to provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Digital)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
26
has image stabilization (Digital)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Travel photography advice
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography details
27
has image stabilization (Digital)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
manual mode not possible
low MP (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging info
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic socket
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus FE-45Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus FE-45 Olympus SZ-30MR
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-01-07 2011-03-02
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-108mm (3.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 gr (0.31 lb) 226 gr (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 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 photos
Type 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, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $130 $279