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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL7
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
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-30MR, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the SZ-30MR (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL6 was manufactured 3 years later than the SZ-30MR and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL6 matches up against the SZ-30MR with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL6 SZ-30MR 
IntroducedAugust 2014March 2011Fresher by 42 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-PL6

 SZ-30MR E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL6 SZ-30MR 
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL6 features exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-30MR has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-30MR in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL6 vs the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and SZ-30MR is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The visual below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL6 and SZ-30MR.

All in all, each of the cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL6 features the bigger sensor which should make getting shallow DOF easier. The fresher E-PL6 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL6
Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography highlights
85
has touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL6
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
79
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
34
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Olympus SZ-30MR
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-08-01 2011-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 data format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 226g (0.50 pounds)
Physical 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 score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 220 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $300 $279