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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-M1 III versus Sony HX30V, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 III (20MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly comparable but the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 III was unveiled 8 years later than the HX30V and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-M1 III scores versus the HX30V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Sony HX30V

 E-M1 III HX30V 
AnnouncedFebruary 2020February 2012More recent by 97 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k922kSharper display (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-M1 III

 HX30V E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony HX30V

 E-M1 III HX30V 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 III enjoys outside measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 III versus Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 III vs the HX30V.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 III and HX30V is 67 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 III and HX30V.

Clearly, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 III with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 III will produce greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 III will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography advice
Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
77
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
45
manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography details
Sony HX30V Street photography details
78
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
environment proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography highlights
Sony HX30V Sports photography highlights
81
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (60.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
79
environment proofing
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
good MP (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (254g)
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX30V Landscape photography highlights
81
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
50
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging information
Sony HX30V Vlogging information
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone port
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Sony HX30V
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2020-02-11 2012-02-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic IX BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 121 9
Cross focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash modes Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580 grams (1.28 lb) 254 grams (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" 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 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 420 photos 320 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two 1
Retail cost $1,800 $420