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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is relatively close and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was unveiled 11 months after the HX30V so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up against the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Sony HX30V

 SZ-16 iHS HX30V 
IntroducedJanuary 2013February 2012Newer by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 HX30V SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX30V

 SZ-16 iHS HX30V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS enjoys outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the HX30V.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and HX30V is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and HX30V.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX30V to provide you with greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer SZ-16 iHS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
35
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
45
manual focus
decent MP (18 megapixels)
features face detection focus
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography info
Sony HX30V Street photography info
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography highlights
Sony HX30V Sports photography highlights
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
decent MP (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography details
Sony HX30V Landscape photography details
41
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery (220 shots)
no Time Lapse function
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Sony HX30V
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 220 shots 320 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $230 $420