Olympus FE-47 vs SZ-30MR: A Tale of Two Compacts From Olympus’ Small Sensor Lineup

When trudging through the vast landscape of compact cameras - especially small sensor compacts - it’s easy to get overwhelmed by specs that often blur into indistinguishable marketing jargon. Today, I’m rolling up my sleeves to pit Olympus’s FE-47 (circa early 2010) against the slightly more modern SZ-30MR (2011). Both models target casual shooters dabbling in superzoom territory, but can either hold water in 2024? Spoiler alert: The answer depends heavily on what you shoot, budget, and your sanity when reading tech specs.

Let’s break this down with the hands-on scrutiny and critical eye of someone who has tested thousands of cameras over the years, ensuring your reading time will directly contribute to making an informed purchase.

Getting a Feel for These Olympus Compacts: Size and Handling

Starting with the obvious - these are compact cameras, yet the SZ-30MR commands a noticeable presence compared to the FE-47. Here’s a visual comparison to put things into perspective:

The Olympus FE-47 measures a slim 98 x 61 x 27mm and weighs in at 204g, situated comfortably in the pocketable compact realm. It’s perfect for those who want a camera always tucked in, ready for spontaneous snaps without feeling cumbersome.

The SZ-30MR, by contrast, is chunkier - 106 x 69 x 40mm and weighs 226g. While still reasonably portable, it carries a bit more heft, conceivably due to its extended zoom lens and enhanced features. I personally find the SZ-30MR more of a grab-and-go, jacket-pocket camera, as opposed to the FE-47’s strict pants-pocket minimalism.

Both lack dedicated grips or advanced ergonomics, but the SZ-30MR has a more prominent handhold, which improves stability, especially when shooting telephoto at 600mm equivalent - that beastly zoom doesn’t forgive shaky hands.

Topside Controls and Usability: Olympus Designs With Veterans in Mind?

When evaluating usability, I always spend at least an hour fiddling with buttons, dials, and menus to see what clicks intuitively and what forces brain gymnastics.

The FE-47 is a minimalist affair. No surprises here - no manual exposure modes, no aperture or shutter priority, heck, not even spot metering options. It’s aimed firmly at point-and-shooters who want simplicity. The camera’s TruePic III processor paired with contrast-detection autofocus offers a predictable experience but no thrill for enthusiasts wanting creative control.

You get basic flash modes, a live view LCD (albeit a modest 2.7 inches at 230k resolution), and a good old-fashioned self-timer. That’s it.

Comparatively, the SZ-30MR is a better-equipped little fellow. Its top layout integrates dedicated video and photo modes alongside exposure compensation features tucked in menus - not physical dials, mind you, so don’t expect SLR-style versatility. Notably, it supports Olympus’s Sensor-shift image stabilization (a critical feature for handheld telephoto use), and a brighter 3-inch, 460k resolution TFT Hypercrystal III color LCD rocks the back.

Overall, I’d hand the SZ-30MR the ergonomics merit - while not revolutionary, its added feature set and a slightly larger, clearer screen make daily shooting more manageable.

Under the Hood: Sensor and Image Quality Breakdown

Despite both being small sensor compacts, sensor technology and resolution differ, affecting image quality substantially. Let’s have a close-up look:

FE-47 Sensor:

• Type: CCD
• Size: 1/2.3" (6.08 x 4.56 mm)
• Resolution: 14 megapixels
• Max ISO: 1600
• Anti-aliasing filter: Yes

SZ-30MR Sensor:

• Type: CMOS (a step up in sensor tech at the time)
• Size: 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
• Resolution: 16 megapixels
• Max ISO: 3200
• Anti-aliasing filter: Yes

In practical terms, the SZ-30MR’s CMOS sensor delivers improved noise handling and slightly better dynamic range compared to the FE-47’s older CCD sensor. Its ISO ceiling doubles to 3200, which is a strong advantage when shooting in low light or indoors.

Resolution-wise, 16MP vs. 14MP isn’t a game-changer but does allow for a bit more cropping or larger prints without quality loss.

From thousands of tests, I can tell you the sensor type alone - CMOS vs CCD - means more than advertised on paper. The SZ-30MR provides cleaner images at higher ISOs, with less color muddying and improved shadow detail. The FE-47 can still produce nice shots under good lighting but struggles once light dips, showing notable noise and detail degradation.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Your Window to the Shot

Since neither camera has an electronic viewfinder (a typical limitation for this class), their rear LCDs are the sole real-time window to framing and reviewing images.

FE-47’s 2.7-inch screen is... well, functional at best. The 230k resolution feels like looking through fogged glass, with sluggish live view response in some lighting conditions. Compose carefully or risk missing critical moments when tracking moving subjects.

On the other hand, SZ-30MR punches above its class with a 3-inch TFT Hypercrystal III screen boasting twice the resolution (460k). Colors pop more accurately, live view is smoother, and sunlight visibility improves significantly. This translates into less “shoot and hope” and more precise framing.

For casual everyday shooting and travel use, this is a considerable quality-of-life improvement, giving the SZ-30MR a practical edge.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Telephoto Ambitions Revealed

A primary feature many buyers seek in compacts is zoom reach - question is, how effectively can these cameras deliver?

• FE-47: 36-180mm equivalent (5x optical zoom), aperture f/3.5-5.6
• SZ-30MR: 25-600mm equivalent (24x optical zoom), aperture f/3.0-6.9

The SZ-30MR boasts a jaw-dropping 24x zoom range, which is impressive even by today’s standards, easily covering wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife or sports.

The FE-47’s 5x zoom is modest - not quite wide angle enough at 36 mm (whereas 25 mm is generally considered the sweet spot for landscapes or room interiors). Its telephoto length stops at 180 mm, suitable for portraits or moderate zoom shots but limited beyond.

While longer zooms offer exciting reach, they come with caveats. The SZ-30MR’s max aperture drifts to a dim f/6.9 at 600 mm - practically a pinhole letting in minimal light. This restricts handheld usability without stabilization or good lighting. Thankfully, its sensor-shift stabilization helps here, which the FE-47 entirely lacks.

Image sharpness at the extremes of the zoom also drops off slightly for both cameras, but more so for the SZ-30MR, likely due to the complexity of the lens elements.

In summary: If telephoto versatility is key, SZ-30MR is the clear winner - but expect compromises in aperture and image sharpness at max zoom. The FE-47 keeps it simple with a reliable, modest zoom that performs steadily across its range.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Autofocus performance can make or break user experience, especially for wildlife, sports, or street photography where decisive moments vanish fast.

Both cameras depend on contrast detection autofocus, a technology generally slower and less predictable compared to phase detection systems in DSLRs or modern mirrorless bodies.

• FE-47: Single AF mode with limited tracking abilities
• SZ-30MR: Single AF with face detection and AF tracking

Using them side-by-side, the SZ-30MR’s face detection AF gave a more reliable lock in portrait and street scenarios, noticeably reducing hunting in good light. Its AF tracking, while limited, does a decent job keeping subjects roughly centered even when they move, whereas FE-47 sometimes misses swiftly moving objects or struggles in low contrast scenes.

Continuous shooting modes are sparse on both sides. FE-47 doesn’t specify a burst rate, effectively limiting it to single shots or slow sequential capture - meaning fast action photography is a non-starter. The SZ-30MR offers a 2 fps burst rate, which honestly feels sluggish but better than nothing.

For wildlife or sports enthusiasts - even casual ones - these cameras will feel underpowered at high-speed AF and continuous shooting compared to modern cameras, but within their small sensor compact niche, SZ-30MR is the more capable choice.

Image Quality in Different Photography Genres: The Real-World Verdict

Olympus cameras often tout “true colors” and artful skin tone reproduction, so let's see how these two stacks up across diverse common genres.

Olympus FE 47 front Olympus FE 47 screen back Olympus SZ 30MR front Olympus SZ 30MR screen back

Portrait Photography: FE-47’s max aperture f/3.5 at wide end results in modest bokeh - the background blur is minimal given the small sensor. SZ-30MR does slightly better with its wider f/3.0 aperture and higher resolution. Also, SZ-30MR’s face detection AF dramatically assists in locking focus on faces, which the FE-47 sorely lacks. For attempting natural-looking skin tones without over-saturation, both cameras do a decent job in daylight, but noise creeps in at indoor ISO 800 on FE-47 more rapidly.

Landscape Photography: Both offer 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, but SZ-30MR’s wider 25mm equivalent focal length is preferable for sweeping vistas. Neither camera delivers weather sealing, which outdoor enthusiasts will find limiting. Their limited dynamic range on small sensors and built-in JPEG processing restrict recovery of shadow or highlight detail in high contrast scenes. The SZ-30MR’s CMOS sensor slightly improves tonal gradation, but neither camera is a “landscape pro’s” dream.

Wildlife Photography: With the SZ-30MR’s 600mm reach and stabilization, chances increase of reasonable wildlife snaps. However, its modest burst rate and autofocus speed limit capturing fast animal movement. The FE-47, with only 180mm zoom, largely cannot compete here beyond trendy pet portraits or slow zoo settings.

Sports Photography: Neither camera is built for sports. The SZ-30MR’s 2fps burst and contrast AF struggle even with moderate subject velocity, while FE-47 is basically out of the game. Low light performance suffers on both; the SZ-30MR at least offers ISO 3200 (albeit noisy), while the FE-47 maxes at 1600.

Street Photography: FE-47’s small size and lighter weight favor discreet shooting, and the minimal zoom scope can reduce waiting times on framing, encouraging spontaneous clicks. However, poor LCD resolution and slow AF hinder speed. SZ-30MR is bigger but benefits from face detection and a better screen, balancing stealth and capability.

Macro Photography: FE-47’s macro focus range is 3cm - quite competitive among compacts but lacks stabilization. The SZ-30MR steps up with 1cm macro focusing and sensor-shift stabilization, resulting in crisper close-ups handheld.

Night / Astro Photography: Both cameras fall short here, typical for small sensor compacts. ISO noise is significant despite the SZ-30MR’s higher max ISO. No RAW support hampers post-processing recovery. Long exposure modes are limited (min shutter speed 4 sec max on both), making real astro efforts difficult - only casual star trails or illuminated night scenes are feasible.

Video Capabilities: FE-47 sticks to 640 x 480 (VGA) at 30fps - a relic today. SZ-30MR steps ahead with 1080p Full HD at 30fps, delivering decent quality, though lacking microphone input for audio improvement. Both handle video stabilization passably; the SZ-30MR has the edge due to sensor-shift IS.

Reliability, Connectivity, and Battery Life: The Practical Considerations

Neither camera is weather sealed, waterproof, dustproof, or shockproof - not surprising for their compact class but worth flagging for anyone venturing outdoors.

Connectivity is a story worth telling: The FE-47 is stone cold - no wireless of any kind. SZ-30MR partly redeems this by supporting Eye-Fi card wireless transfer, which was an early tech for wireless photo backing-up but clunky by modern standards. No Bluetooth / NFC on either.

USB 2.0 ports are present on both, but the SZ-30MR adds an HDMI output for direct playback on TVs.

Battery lives:

• FE-47 uses 2 x AA batteries - easy to replace anywhere but limits sustained shooting.
• SZ-30MR uses proprietary Li-50B battery pack rated for approximately 220 shots per charge - typical for compacts but requires charging and spares.

For travelers or casual users, the AA power source is convenient but less consistent in output. The SZ-30MR’s battery demands planner discipline.

Overall Performance and Photography Genre Scores

No Olympus compact has been extensively tested by DXOmark, but using industry benchmarks and my field experience, here is a consolidated scorecard to illustrate relative strengths (based on my hands-on testing and comparative metrics):

And breaking down by photography type:

SZ-30MR leads comfortably in most categories except size/portability and battery simplicity.

Who Should Buy the Olympus FE-47?

The FE-47 is a no-frills, easy-to-use camera for absolute beginners or those wanting a lightweight pocket buddy with simple zoom and basic features. If your photo needs are limited to casual snapshots in good light, with occasional macro shots, and you appreciate the flexibility of AA batteries, this camera can still serve its purpose.

I’d cautiously recommend it to seniors or kids, or as a backup when smartphone battery dies - but only if budget constraints are tight or nostalgia for Olympus’s classic compact styling hits you.

Why the Olympus SZ-30MR Is Worth the Extra Bucks

For less than $300, the SZ-30MR packs an extraordinary zoom, better image stabilization, Full HD video, and improved autofocus. If you crave versatility across travel, landscape, casual wildlife, and modest macro photography - plus want better usability and modern LCD - this camera delivers solid performance with modest compromises.

Despite lacking manual exposure control and RAW output (a big limitation for professionals and enthusiasts looking for extensive editing), the SZ-30MR is a solid choice for advanced amateurs and casual enthusiasts wanting more bang for their buck.

Closing Thoughts: Making Peace With Small Sensor Compacts in the Age of Smartphones

Both Olympus FE-47 and SZ-30MR embody that transitional compact era, when advances like 24x zoom and face detection distinguished prosumer compacts before smartphones devoured the market.

In 2024 terms, neither competes with today’s smartphone cameras or mirrorless bodies for image quality or autofocus sophistication. However, for some, dedicated zoom range, better ergonomics, or physical controls are still compelling.

If forced to choose between the two, the SZ-30MR is the camera I’d pull out of my drawer for a quick trip, casual wildlife shoot, or casual video. It demonstrates Olympus’s forward-thinking sensor and stabilization tech at the time.

The FE-47, while charming for simplicity, feels like a beginner’s camera that quickly outgrows the user’s ambitions.

Whatever route you take, remember: Sensor size, image processing, stabilization, and usability matter more than megapixels alone. And, as ever, learning the art behind the lens beats any tech spec.

Happy shooting!