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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Replacement is OM System OM-5
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
  • Older Model is Sony HX20V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 III was introduced 7 years later than the HX30V and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-M5 III scores vs the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M5 III HX30V 
LaunchedOctober 2019February 2012Fresher by 93 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k922kSharper display (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 HX30V E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III HX30V 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 III provides outside dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the HX30V.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V size comparison

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

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

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and HX30V.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will give extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 III should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography info
Sony HX30V Portrait photography info
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
45
manual focus
decent megapixels (18MP)
features face detection focusing
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
83
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
weather proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
77
weather proof
has bluetooth
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
69
lighter than others (254 grams)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery pack (310 CIPA)
50
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
84
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony HX30V
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2019-10-17 2012-02-28
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII BIONZ
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 30.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, 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)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414 gr (0.91 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 320 photographs
Form 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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $1,199 $420