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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the SZ-30MR (16MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 2 years after the SZ-30MR which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PM2 matches up against the SZ-30MR with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PM2 SZ-30MR 
LaunchedMay 2013March 2011More modern by 28 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-PM2

 SZ-30MR E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PM2 SZ-30MR 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 features outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-30MR has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM2 and the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and SZ-30MR is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The image below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and SZ-30MR.

All in all, the two cameras feature the identical megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 uses the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field simpler. The younger E-PM2 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
34
good MP (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography info
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography info
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
66
includes touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery life (220 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging details
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging details
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus SZ-30MR
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-05-21 2011-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS 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 16MP 16MP
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
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
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 format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 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 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 220 photographs
Style of battery 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $448 $279