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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX20V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony HX30V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 5 months before the HX30V which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Sony HX30V

 E-PL3 HX30V 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-PL3

 HX30V E-PL3 
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony HX30V

 E-PL3 HX30V 
IntroducedSeptember 2011February 2012Similar generation
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 features exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 and Sony HX30V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the HX30V.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and HX30V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The graphic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and HX30V.

Plainly, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony HX30V will give more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Sony HX30V Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
45
manual focus
decent MP (18MP)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography advice
Sony HX30V Street photography advice
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Sony HX30V
44
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (300 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (254g)
decent MP (18MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX30V Landscape photography highlights
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
50
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-09-20 2012-02-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 320 photographs
Type of battery 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $399 $420