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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Samsung GX-1S front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced March 2011
Samsung GX-1S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced January 2006
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Samsung GX-1S, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and GX-1S (6MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and GX-1S (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was launched 5 years later than the GX-1S and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Samsung GX-1S being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SZ-30MR scores vs the GX-1S for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Samsung GX-1S

 SZ-30MR GX-1S 
AnnouncedMarch 2011January 2006More recent by 63 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kSharper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung GX-1S over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 GX-1S SZ-30MR 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Samsung GX-1S

 SZ-30MR GX-1S 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR features physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Samsung GX-1S has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-30MR and Samsung GX-1S in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the GX-1S.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and GX-1S is 89 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The visual underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and GX-1S.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus SZ-30MR will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos far more aggressively. The younger SZ-30MR is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography factors
Samsung GX-1S Portrait photography factors
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
50
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography factors
Samsung GX-1S Street photography factors
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than others in class (605 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography details
Samsung GX-1S Sports photography details
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
Samsung GX-1S Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery power (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than others in class (605 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (6MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Samsung GX-1S
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery power (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
46
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
Vlogging with Samsung GX-1S
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing mic support
9
no video shooting
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-1S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Samsung GX-1S
 Olympus SZ-30MRSamsung GX-1S
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Samsung GX-1S
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-02 2006-01-16
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 605g (1.33 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
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 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $279 $850