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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Renewed by 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
  • Launched February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Updated by Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX30V, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is very well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was released 21 months after the HX30V making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M1 matches up against the HX30V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony HX30V

 E-M1 HX30V 
LaunchedOctober 2013February 2012Newer by 21 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k922kCrisper display (+115k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-M1

 HX30V E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX30V

 E-M1 HX30V 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX30V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-M1 against the HX30V.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and HX30V is 71 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and HX30V.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX30V will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M1 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
71
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
45
you can focus manually
decent MP (18MP)
supports face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than competition in class (497g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Sony HX30V Sports photography features
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 shots)
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment proofing
includes touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
bad battery power (350 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
50
you can focus manually
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging details
Sony HX30V Vlogging details
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic socket
lighter than competition in class (497g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
34
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-28 2012-02-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash options Flash Auto, 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 320 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $799 $420