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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Announced February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony HX30V, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was launched 3 years earlier than the HX30V which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-P1 matches up against the HX30V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony HX30V

 E-P1 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-P1

 HX30V E-P1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012July 2009More modern by 31 months
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony HX30V

 E-P1 HX30V 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has got physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has sizing 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-P1 versus Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-P1 vs the HX30V.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and HX30V is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through specifications. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and HX30V.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX30V will render more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX30V Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
45
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography advice
Sony HX30V Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX30V Sports photography highlights
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Sony HX30V Travel photography advice
43
missing Timelapse mode
low battery (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
megapixel count good (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography info
Sony HX30V Landscape photography info
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
50
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-07-29 2012-02-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 254g (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 320 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $182 $420