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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30

Portability
84
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 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
  • Revealed January 2016
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Introduced September 2014
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Lens-style by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is fairly similar but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and QX30 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was introduced 18 months after the QX30 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the PEN-F grades versus the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony QX30

 PEN-F QX30 
IntroducedJanuary 2016September 2014More modern by 18 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution1037k0kSharper display (+1037k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus PEN-F

 QX30 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Sony QX30

 PEN-F QX30 
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F has outside 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) and the Sony QX30 has dimensions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the PEN-F versus the QX30.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and QX30 is 84 and 91 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The image below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and QX30.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The PEN-F has got the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF easier. The newer PEN-F is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography advice
Sony QX30 Portrait photography advice
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
38
resolution is good (20MP)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
84
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography information
Sony QX30 Sports photography information
66
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
75
includes focus via touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
65
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (20MP)
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Sony QX30
76
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
39
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging information
Sony QX30 Vlogging information
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of mic support
35
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Sony QX30
 Olympus PEN-FSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN-F Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Type Advanced Mirrorless Lens-style
Revealed 2016-01-27 2014-09-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch -
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) None
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427g (0.94 pounds) 193g (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $1,000 $348