Clicky

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 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
  • Launched March 2011
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Released April 2017
  • Later Model is Sony A9 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 Overview

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A9, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) use different sensor measurements.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The SZ-30MR was announced 7 years before the A9 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SZ-30MR grades versus the A9 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A9

 SZ-30MR A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A9 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedApril 2017March 2011More modern by 74 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k460kClearer display (+980k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A9

 SZ-30MR A9 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR comes with exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A9 has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A9 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the A9.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and A9 is 89 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through specifications. The image below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and A9.

To sum up, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR using its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A9 will produce extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography factors
Sony A9 Portrait photography factors
34
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
83
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Sony A9
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Sony A9 Sports photography info
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (20.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery life (650 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography advice
Sony A9 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
73
good battery life (650 shots)
weather sealing
has bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
MP count good (24 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
85
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good battery life (650 per charge)
two card slots
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging factors
Sony A9 Vlogging factors
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
36
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A9
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha A9
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha A9
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2011-03-02 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 693
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/8000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 673g (1.48 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 92
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 220 images 650 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 2
Retail pricing $279 $4,498