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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 III
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
  • Released February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony HX30V, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly close but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was brought out 2 years later than the HX30V and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-M5 II grades against the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony HX30V

 E-M5 II HX30V 
ReleasedFebruary 2015February 2012More recent by 36 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k922kCrisper display (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-M5 II

 HX30V E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony HX30V

 E-M5 II HX30V 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 II provides exterior measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony HX30V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 II against the HX30V.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and HX30V is 80 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 II and HX30V.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Sony HX30V will provide you with more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The younger E-M5 II should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX30V Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
45
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
comes with face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography details
Sony HX30V Street photography details
82
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography info
Sony HX30V Sports photography info
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
terrible battery (310 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography information
Sony HX30V Travel photography information
74
environment sealing
offers focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery (310 per charge)
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
good MP (18MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography details
Sony HX30V Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery (310 CIPA)
50
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
82
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony HX30V
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2015-02-06 2012-02-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII BIONZ
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 gr (1.03 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 320 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 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 1 1
Retail price $699 $420