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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
48
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Released July 2006
  • Superseded the Konica Minolta 5D
  • Newer Model is Sony A550
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A100, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and A100 (10MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was launched 4 years later than the A100 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SZ-30MR matches up against the A100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A100

 SZ-30MR A100 
ReleasedMarch 2011July 2006Fresher by 56 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A100 SZ-30MR 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A100

 SZ-30MR A100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR features outer measurements 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 Sony A100 has sizing of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the A100.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and A100 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and A100.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-30MR will produce more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern SZ-30MR will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
Sony A100 Portrait photography highlights
34
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
52
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Sony A100 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography features
Sony A100 Sports photography features
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography highlights
Sony A100 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
45
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Sony A100
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
53
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
resolution not great (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging advice
Sony A100 Vlogging advice
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
9
can't record video
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A100
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-02 2006-07-31
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 638g (1.41 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 476
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $279 $1,000