Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30
84 Imaging
58 Features
79 Overall
66


91 Imaging
45 Features
37 Overall
41
Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN-F & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus PEN-F Gallery & Sony QX30 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Sony QX30
PEN-F | QX30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | January 2016 | ![]() | September 2014 | More modern by 18 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | " | Larger display (+3") |
Display resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 0k | Sharper 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Sony QX30 Specifications
Olympus PEN-F | Sony 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 |