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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 12 months before the HX30V and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL2 grades vs the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony HX30V

 E-PL2 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-PL2

 HX30V E-PL2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012February 2011More recent by 12 months
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX30V

 E-PL2 HX30V 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 has outside dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL2 against the HX30V.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and HX30V is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and HX30V.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX30V will result in extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Sony HX30V Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
45
focusing manually
good megapixels (18MP)
has face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Sony HX30V
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Sony HX30V Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery (280 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
Sony HX30V Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery (280 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
good megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery (280 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
50
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
Sony HX30V Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-11 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 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 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos 320 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $0 $420