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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
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
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V Overview

Following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly close but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and HX30V (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The PEN-F was revealed 3 years after the HX30V which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the PEN-F scores against the HX30V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony HX30V

 PEN-F HX30V 
ReleasedJanuary 2016February 2012More modern by 48 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k922kCrisper display (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus PEN-F

 HX30V PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX30V

 PEN-F HX30V 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F provides external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V 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 change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F vs the HX30V.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and HX30V is 84 and 90 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and HX30V.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F having a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus PEN-F will render extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography info
Sony HX30V Street photography info
84
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography information
Sony HX30V Sports photography information
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
not so great battery life (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography details
Sony HX30V Travel photography details
75
supports touch to focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery life (330 shots)
69
lighter than competition (254g)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
not so great battery life (330 per charge)
50
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
78
selfie friendly display
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external mic support
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony HX30V
 Olympus PEN-FSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN-F Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-27 2012-02-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
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 81 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 254 grams (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 320 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $1,000 $420