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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony HX30V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is very well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 6 years later than the HX30V and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL9 matches up vs the HX30V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony HX30V

 E-PL9 HX30V 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018February 2012More recent by 73 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k922kClearer display (+118k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus E-PL9

 HX30V E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony HX30V

 E-PL9 HX30V 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with outside dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the HX30V.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and HX30V is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The photograph below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony HX30V will give greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern E-PL9 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
45
manual focus
good MP (18MP)
supports face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography factors
Sony HX30V Street photography factors
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
Sony HX30V Sports photography details
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography info
Sony HX30V Travel photography info
77
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
50
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony HX30V
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2018-02-08 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 images 320 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $599 $420