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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus SZ-30MR, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the SZ-30MR (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was released 19 months after the SZ-30MR which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-PL5 matches up against the SZ-30MR with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL5 SZ-30MR 
LaunchedSeptember 2012March 2011Newer by 19 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-PL5

 SZ-30MR E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL5 SZ-30MR 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 provides outer measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-30MR has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus SZ-30MR in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL5 against the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and SZ-30MR is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specifications. The pic here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and SZ-30MR.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 uses the bigger sensor which will make obtaining bokeh simpler. The more modern E-PL5 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography advice
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography advice
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
75
features focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse function
65
lighter than competition (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of Time Lapse function
41
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging highlights
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of mic support
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus SZ-30MR
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-09-17 2011-03-02
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 226 gr (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 220 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $279