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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Samsung GX-20 front
Portability
58
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced March 2011
Samsung GX-20
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 72mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Old Model is Samsung GX-10
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the GX-20 (15MP) is very well matched but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and GX-20 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-30MR was announced 3 years after the GX-20 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Samsung GX-20 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SZ-30MR scores vs the GX-20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Samsung GX-20

 SZ-30MR GX-20 
IntroducedMarch 2011January 2008More modern by 38 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung GX-20 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 GX-20 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus More precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Samsung GX-20

 SZ-30MR GX-20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR has exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Samsung GX-20 has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 72mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR against the GX-20.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and GX-20 is 89 and 58 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through specs. The image below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and GX-20.

All in all, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Olympus SZ-30MR will give extra detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The fresher SZ-30MR is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Samsung GX-20
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
focusing manually
good resolution (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Samsung GX-20 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Samsung GX-20
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Samsung GX-20 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
63
environment sealing
good resolution (15MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung GX-20 as a Landscape photography camera
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
small screen (2.7 inch)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging highlights
Samsung GX-20 Vlogging highlights
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
9
can't record video
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Samsung GX-20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Samsung GX-20
 Olympus SZ-30MRSamsung GX-20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Samsung GX-20
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-03-02 2008-01-24
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4688 x 3120
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 142 x 101 x 72mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 714
Other
Battery life 220 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $279 $850