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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
93
Overall
82

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II 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
  • Released March 2011
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Superseded the Sony A9
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A9 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and A9 II (24MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A9 II (Full frame) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 9 years prior to the A9 II which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the SZ-30MR scores vs the A9 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SZ-30MR A9 II 

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

 A9 II SZ-30MR 
RevealedOctober 2019March 2011More modern by 104 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k460kClearer screen (+980k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 SZ-30MR A9 II 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 II has measurements of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A9 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the A9 II.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and A9 II is 89 and 62 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through specs. The picture below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and A9 II.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A9 II will give you extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
Sony A9 II Portrait photography highlights
34
good resolution (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
85
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography highlights
Sony A9 II Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Sports photography camera
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
88
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
better than average battery power (690 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
Sony A9 II Travel photography features
65
lighter than average (226g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
73
better than average battery power (690 CIPA)
environment sealing
has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
86
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery power (690 CIPA)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
Vlogging with Sony A9 II
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A9 II
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2011-03-02 2019-10-03
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 51200
Highest boosted ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 693
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 678 grams (1.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 690 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single 2
Launch pricing $279 $4,498