Clicky

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
43
Features
43
Overall
43

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Released July 2013
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and TX30 (18MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and TX30 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

The E-P3 was introduced 23 months before the TX30 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-P3 matches up versus the TX30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Sony TX30

 E-P3 TX30 

Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Olympus E-P3

 TX30 E-P3 
ReleasedJuly 2013August 2011Fresher by 23 months
Display sizing3.3"3"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k614kCrisper display (+615k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Sony TX30

 E-P3 TX30 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 provides exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Sony TX30 has dimensions of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P3 against the TX30.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and TX30 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and TX30.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony TX30 will render more detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-P3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography details
Sony TX30 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
39
has manual focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography advice
Sony TX30 Street photography advice
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
no moving screen
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony TX30 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
weather sealing
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography highlights
Sony TX30 Travel photography highlights
60
boasts focus by touch
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
69
weather sealing
resolution is good (18MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony TX30 Landscape photography highlights
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
51
has manual focus
quite wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3.3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
weather sealing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Sony TX30
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
34
quite wide (26mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of external mic jack
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Olympus E-P3 vs Sony TX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Sony TX30
 Olympus PEN E-P3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-08-17 2013-07-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-4.8
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3.3"
Display resolution 614 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lb) 141 grams (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $230