Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony HX30V

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL6 versus Sony HX30V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL6 was launched 2 years later than the HX30V and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL6 matches up vs the HX30V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL6 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL6 Gallery and Sony HX30V Gallery.

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL6 comes with external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL6 versus Sony HX30V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL6 against the HX30V.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and HX30V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL6 and HX30V.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL6 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX30V will give greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent E-PL6 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.