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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Released April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-M5 and Sony QX30, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Lens-style by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is very close but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and QX30 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was introduced 3 years prior to the QX30 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-M5 grades vs the QX30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony QX30

 E-M5 QX30 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution610k0kSharper display (+610k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus E-M5

 QX30 E-M5 
RevealedSeptember 2014April 2012Fresher by 28 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony QX30

 E-M5 QX30 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has got physical dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has proportions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 and Sony QX30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 versus the QX30.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and QX30 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and QX30.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony QX30 will provide you with extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-M5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Sony QX30 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
38
good resolution (20MP)
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony QX30
82
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus via touch
weather sealing
good ISO range (25,600)
62
image stabilization (Optical)
features touch focus
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography info
Sony QX30 Sports photography info
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
does not have phase detect AF
47
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
66
weather sealing
boasts focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
65
features touch focus
good resolution (20MP)
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography features
Sony QX30 Landscape photography features
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
does not have Timelapse recording
39
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small ( inches)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery pack (200 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
35
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony QX30
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Advanced Mirrorless Lens-style
Released 2012-04-30 2014-09-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS 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 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" -
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) None
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 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 grams (0.94 pounds) 193 grams (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 images 200 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $799 $348