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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched March 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus SZ-30MR, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the SZ-30MR (16MP) is very close but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was manufactured 15 months after the SZ-30MR making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 grades versus the SZ-30MR with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-M5 SZ-30MR 
LaunchedApril 2012March 2011More modern by 15 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k460kClearer display (+150k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-M5

 SZ-30MR E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-M5 SZ-30MR 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 comes with physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-30MR has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus SZ-30MR in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 compared to the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and SZ-30MR is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The picture here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and SZ-30MR.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact MP but different sensor sizes. The E-M5 uses the larger sensor which should make achieving bokeh easier. The younger E-M5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
weather proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography information
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
lacks phase detect autofocus
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
66
weather proofing
offers focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography advice
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
lack of Timelapse recording
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus SZ-30MR
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-04-30 2011-03-02
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 610k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 220 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $279