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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30

Portability
81 Imaging
51 Features
70 Overall
58
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96 Imaging
38 Features
41 Overall
39

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-M5 and Sony WX30, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the WX30 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and WX30 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was announced 10 months later than the WX30 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-M5 scores versus the WX30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony WX30

          

          

            
 E-M5 WX30 
IntroducedApril 2012July 2011More recent by 10 months
Manually focus  More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Olympus E-M5

          

          

            
 WX30 E-M5 
Screen resolution922k610kSharper screen (+312k dot)
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony WX30

          

          

            
 E-M5 WX30 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen  Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with external dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony WX30 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).
Examine the Olympus E-M5 and Sony WX30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 compared to the WX30.
Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 size comparison
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and WX30 is 81 and 96 respectively.
Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Normally, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and WX30.
Clearly, both the cameras have the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-M5 uses the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF simpler. The younger E-M5 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

            Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography features
Sony WX30 Portrait photography features
70
 focusing manually
 sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 comes with face detection autofocus
 saves RAW files
29
 good MP (16 megapixels)
 focusing manually not possible
 no manual control
 can't use external flash
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison
 Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
 Sony WX30 as a Street photography camera
82
 tilting screen
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 saves RAW files
 features focus by touch
 weather proofing
 above average ISO range (25,600)
63
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than average in class (117g)
 no articulating screen
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison
 Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
 Sony WX30 as a Sports photography camera
67
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 comes with tracking autofocus
 weather proofing
 lack of phase detect autofocus
39
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good MP (16MP)
 no shutter priority
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary
Travel Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Travel photography information
Sony WX30 Travel photography information
66
 weather proofing
 features focus by touch
 sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
 missing Timelapse mode
 screen isn't selfie friendly
68
 lighter than average in class (117g)
 good MP (16 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 relatively wide (25mm)
 lack of Time Lapse mode
 doesn't contain selfie friendly display
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography factors
Sony WX30 Landscape photography factors
73
 focusing manually
 change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 screen size is good (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 above average ISO range (25,600)
 saves RAW files
 weather proofing
 missing Timelapse mode
42
 relatively wide (25mm)
 good sized screen (3 inches)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good MP (16MP)
 focusing manually not possible
 can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
 no manual control
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
 lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Sony WX30
34
 touchscreen
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 comes with face detection autofocus
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 screen isn't selfie friendly
 missing external microphone socket
35
 relatively wide (25mm)
 touchscreen capability
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 lighter than average in class (117 grams)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
 doesn't contain selfie friendly display
 lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony WX30
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-04-30 2011-07-25
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI BIONZ
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 4:3 and  16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures    
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
AF touch    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
AF live view    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 610 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch display    
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 425g (0.94 lbs) 117g (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 250 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $799 $259