Olympus E-P2 vs Sony HX30V: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison for Photographers in 2024

Choosing the right camera isn’t just about specs on a sheet anymore. With almost a decade separating their releases, the Olympus PEN E-P2 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V sit in very different corners of the imaging world, yet both appeal to photography enthusiasts looking for capable options without breaking the bank.

I’ve spent hours testing, comparing, and pushing these two cameras in varied shooting scenarios to bring you insights that go beyond marketing fluff or spec wars. If you’re a serious hobbyist or a pro considering either model (or just interested in how cameras evolve), read on. I’ll break down what you get, what you give up, and how each camera serves different needs.

Getting a Feel for the Body and Handling

Understanding how a camera feels in your hands is as important as the pixels it produces. Ergonomics impact how quickly you can adjust settings, how steady you hold the camera, and how comfortable it is for long sessions.

Olympus E-P2 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless with a Micro Four Thirds sensor. It weighs in at 355g and measures 121x70x36mm. Thanks to its classic design, it offers a satisfying grip, especially for users who like to clutch something substantial. The E-P2 sports a fixed 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD with 230k dots - nothing fancy by today’s standards but decent for its era. In my hands, the buttons and dials offer good tactile feedback, though the lack of touchscreen slows quick menu navigation.

Sony HX30V, on the other hand, is a compact superzoom camera with a significantly smaller form factor: 254 grams and 107x62x35mm. It’s something you can slide in a jacket pocket, making it an ideal travel sidekick. The fixed 3-inch XtraFine TruBlack LCD boasts a higher resolution (922k dots), making image preview and menu navigation crisp and enjoyable despite no touchscreen. However, due to its ultra-zoom lens, the HX30V feels a bit front-heavy and the grip may be skimpy for larger hands.

Here’s a size comparison to put it in perspective:

Control layouts also reveal their different philosophies. Olympus favors ample knobs and dedicated exposure controls, appealing to manual shooters. Sony condenses controls for compactness, which means more menu diving if you want to tweak advanced settings.

Sensor and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds vs Small Sensor Superzoom

Arguably, image quality begins with the sensor. The Olympus E-P2 features a 12MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13mm. The Sony HX30V uses a smaller 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor sized 6.17x4.55mm but with 18MP resolution.

The Olympus sensor’s physical size is over 8 times larger in area than Sony's, giving it a clear advantage in light-gathering ability and dynamic range potential. This difference shows up in real-world performance, especially in low light and high contrast scenes.

Here’s a direct comparison of their sensor sizes:

From my testing, the Olympus exhibits superior color depth and cleaner detail preservation. DxO Mark’s scores back that up, with the E-P2 scoring 56 overall and delivering 21.5 bits of color depth and 10.4 EV of dynamic range. Sony’s sensor wasn’t formally tested on DxO, but cameras with similar sensor sizes tend to suffer in shadow noise and highlight roll-off.

Sony trades sensor size for an impressive zoom lens reaching 25-500mm (20x optical zoom), versus Olympus relying on interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lenses (107 available and counting) for versatility and quality. So if your priority is sharpness and image fidelity, Olympus is your solid bet but at the cost of bulk and investment in lenses.

Autofocus Performance and Speed: Manual Precision vs Point-and-Shoot Convenience

The Olympus E-P2 uses contrast-detection autofocus with 11 focus points and supports face detection. It has continuous AF but no eye or animal eye tracking. The autofocus is accurate but sometimes slow, especially in low contrast or dim conditions. It shines with manual focus, allowing precise control with focus peaking and 100% live-view coverage, a plus for macro and landscape shooters who favor fine focus control.

Sony HX30V features a 9-point contrast detection AF system with face and tracking capabilities. It lacks continuous AF during video and isn’t the speediest shooter, but its autofocus locks relatively quickly for a compact camera. Its continuous shooting rate of 10fps beats the Olympus's 3fps, which may help with casual sports or wildlife snapshots, although buffer depth limits sustained bursts.

For scenarios where quick focus and tracking rule - wildlife, sports - the HX30V will outperform E-P2 in practicality. But if pinpoint focus for portraits or macro work is your territory, Olympus provides more control, despite a slower AF system.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Robustness vs Portability

Neither camera offers official weather sealing or rugged protection, a common limitation for budget and entry-level cameras from that era. Both must be handled with care in adverse conditions.

Olympus E-P2’s body is well-built with metal elements and has a reassuring heft. Sony HX30V’s plastic-bodied compact design feels less robust but benefits from portability and ease of carry.

If you shoot outdoors frequently and need extra durability, consider investing in weatherproof Micro Four Thirds lenses paired with E-P2. Otherwise, for casual outdoors or travel use, HX30V’s small size and light weight tip the scales in favor of convenience.

Handling Photos and Videos: Who Performs Where?

Portrait Photography

For portraits, accurate skin tones, attractive bokeh, and intelligent face detection matter most. Olympus’ larger sensor fares better producing natural skin tones and less noise at higher ISOs. Its use of interchangeable lenses with wide apertures means you can get creamy background separation easily.

Sony’s small sensor struggles to produce shallower depth of field, but its face detection helps keep your subject’s eyes in focus. That said, bokeh is often busy and lacks the smoothness of Olympus shots.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prize resolution, dynamic range, and weatherproofing. Olympus provides 12MP resolution optimized for sharpness and broader dynamic range, capturing subtle details in shadows and highlights. Its manual controls and electronic viewfinder support precise framing and long exposures.

Sony’s higher megapixel count (18MP) might lure landscape shooters on paper, but the small sensor size limits dynamic range and fine tonal gradation. The powerful zoom is less relevant here since landscapes usually benefit from primes or wide zooms.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Fast autofocus and high continuous shooting rates are key here. Sony's HX30V offers 10fps bursts and tracking AF, better suited for wildlife and sports enthusiasts capturing fast action. However, limited buffer depth might frustrate longer sequences.

Olympus E-P2 is slower (3fps) and lacks robust tracking, but pairing it with fast Micro Four Thirds telephoto lenses (e.g., 40-150mm f/2.8) and crop factor 2x allows decent reach. Its in-body stabilization helps with handheld shots.

Street Photography

Sony HX30V’s discreet compact form, quick startup, and long zoom make it ideal for urban shooters seeking candid moments with minimal fuss. Olympus, while rangefinder-styled and stylish, is a bit bulkier and slower to adjust settings.

Macro Photography

Olympus, with its interchangeable lenses and sensor stabilization, has an edge here for precise focus and high-quality detailed captures. Sony's fixed lens has impressive macro mode focusing down to 1cm, suitable for casual close-ups but not professional macro work.

Night and Astro Photography

Low noise performance at high ISO favors Olympus’ larger sensor. The E-P2’s higher native ISO (up to 6400) with better noise control and longer exposure times makes it a winner in low light and night photography.

Sony HX30V offers higher max ISO of 12800, but high noise levels degrade quality severely. Its lack of long exposure modes limits astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities

Sony HX30V offers 1080p video at 60fps and AVCHD/MPEG-4 formats - quite impressive for its category. Olympus is limited to 720p at 30fps recording in Motion JPEG format. Neither supports microphone input, making external audio recording a challenge.

Sony is clearly the better option if video is a priority.

Travel Photography

Sony’s compact size, built-in GPS, and long zoom make it a versatile travel companion. Olympus’ larger body and need for multiple lenses add bulk and complexity. Battery life is comparable - Olympus rated around 300 shots, Sony around 320.

Professional Work

Olympus supports RAW format, vital for professional editing workflows. Sony HX30V lacks RAW, limiting post-processing flexibility. Olympus might be better suited as a backup or creative tool for professionals.

The Screens and Viewfinders: What You See Is What You Get

Olympus E-P2 features a 3-inch fixed HyperCrystal LCD with bona fide Anti-Reflective coating, but the 230k dot resolution is low by today’s standards. There's no built-in viewfinder, but an optional electronic viewfinder (EVF) is available as an add-on.

Sony HX30V has a sharper 3-inch TruBlack TFT screen at 922k dots, providing a noticeably better live view experience outdoors despite no viewfinder.

These visual differences impact framing, focusing accuracy, and shooting comfort.

Sample Images: Seeing Is Believing

After shooting numerous test shots with both cameras under varied lighting and subjects (portraits, landscapes, fast action), the differences are clear.

Olympus images show cleaner shadows, richer color depth, and smoother tonal transitions. Sony images display impressive detail when zoomed in but struggle with noise and highlight clipping.

Take a look yourself:

Olympus E P2 front Olympus E P2 screen back Sony HX30V front Sony HX30V screen back

Scores and Performance Analytics: Bringing It All Together

Here’s an overall performance rating based on sensor quality, autofocus, ergonomics, and features - based on my hands-on assessment and validated testing data.

And a deeper dive into genre-specific scores:

Diving Into the Nitty-Gritty of Build and Connectivity

• Battery & Storage: Both use proprietary battery packs and single SD card slots. Battery life is nearly identical (~300 shots), standard for their categories.
• Connectivity: Sony packs built-in WiFi and GPS, helpful for geotagging and quick sharing (though limited by age). Olympus lacks wireless connectivity.
• Ports: Both feature HDMI for external monitors. No microphone input or headphone jacks, limiting advanced videographers.
• Lens Options: Olympus’ micro four thirds mount unlocks access to over 100 lenses, from compact primes to professional zooms. Sony’s fixed lens is a jack-of-all-trades but no option to swap.

Pros and Cons Summary: Olympus E-P2 vs Sony HX30V

Who Should Pick Which?

Pick the Olympus E-P2 if:

• You’re serious about still image quality, skin tones, and dynamic range.
• You want full manual control and the flexibility of changing lenses.
• Portrait, macro, and landscape photography are your main gigs.
• You prefer manual focus precision and don’t mind slower burst rates.
• You’re okay carrying a slightly bulkier system for superior image fidelity.

Pick the Sony HX30V if:

• Portability and zoom range trump everything else for your travels.
• Video capability (1080p 60fps) matters to you alongside photos.
• You want a simple point-and-shoot experience with fast bursts.
• You appreciate built-in GPS for geotagging on adventures.
• You’re on a tighter budget and prefer all-in-one devices with minimal extras.

My Final Word: Balancing Value, Purpose, and Practicality

Having tested thousands of cameras over the years, I’ve learned there's rarely a one-size-fits-all winner. The Olympus E-P2 and Sony HX30V represent fundamentally different paths in camera design - a modular, quality-over-everything mirrorless versus a compact, convenience-focused superzoom.

If image quality and creative flexibility are what you crave - even at the cost of bulk and expense - the Olympus E-P2 still holds its ground impressively nearly 14 years later. Its larger sensor and lens ecosystem are enduring assets for enthusiasts exploring photography as an art.

But if you’re a cheapskate who values pocketability, zoom reach, and video performance for everyday memories, the Sony HX30V delivers excellent bang for buck. Its compactness and GPS are perfect travel companions, with decent image quality for casual use.

Either way, understanding these cameras’ strengths and compromises helps avoid buyer’s remorse. Think about your primary use cases - portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or travel - and let that guide your choice. Above all, remember that a skilled photographer can create amazing images on almost any gear, but having the right tool for your priorities makes the journey more enjoyable.

Feel free to reach out if you want photo samples, lens recommendations, or setup guides for either model. Here’s to many joyful clicks ahead!