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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 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 A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A380
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A350, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-30MR was manufactured 2 years after the A350 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SZ-30MR matches up vs the A350 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A350

 SZ-30MR A350 
ReleasedMarch 2011June 2008More modern by 34 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A350 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A350

 SZ-30MR A350 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR enjoys external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A350 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A350 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the A350.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and A350 is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by seeing specifications. The pic below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and A350.

To sum up, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SZ-30MR will show extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The more recent SZ-30MR provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A350 as a Portrait photography camera
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Sony A350 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
66
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
heavier than competitors (674g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Sony A350 as a Sports photography camera
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Sony A350
65
lighter than competition (226g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
51
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (674 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography details
Sony A350 Landscape photography details
41
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
64
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging advice
Sony A350 Vlogging advice
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A350
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-02 2008-06-06
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 port
Headphone port
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 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 674 gr (1.49 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 595
Other
Battery life 220 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Card slots One One
Retail price $279 $600