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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Also referred to as X-935
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
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus FE-5020 versus Sony HX30V, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the FE-5020 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FE-5020 was unveiled 3 years prior to the HX30V and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FE-5020 matches up vs the HX30V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Sony HX30V

 FE-5020 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus FE-5020

 HX30V FE-5020 
RevealedFebruary 2012July 2009Fresher by 31 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Sony HX30V

 FE-5020 HX30V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus FE-5020 provides exterior dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus FE-5020 versus Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the FE-5020 versus the HX30V.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-5020 and HX30V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The visual below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FE-5020 and HX30V.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Sony HX30V to give more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older FE-5020 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus FE-5020
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
45
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18MP)
comes with face detection focusing
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-5020
Street photography with Sony HX30V
60
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (137 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-5020
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
24
weather proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition in class (137g)
weather proofing
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography features
Sony HX30V Landscape photography features
31
decently wide (24mm)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
50
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus FE-5020
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
28
decently wide (24mm)
lighter than competition in class (137 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
34
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus FE-5020Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus FE-5020 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Also Known as X-935 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-07-22 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-5.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.10 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 137 gr (0.30 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 - 320 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $160 $420