Clicky

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 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
  • Released March 2011
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A350
  • Successor is Sony A390
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the A380 (14MP) is pretty similar but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A380 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The SZ-30MR was brought out 19 months later than the A380 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SZ-30MR matches up against the A380 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A380

 SZ-30MR A380 
AnnouncedMarch 2011August 2009More recent by 19 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A380 SZ-30MR 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A380

 SZ-30MR A380 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR features outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-30MR and the A380.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and A380 is 89 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and A380.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus SZ-30MR will offer greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger SZ-30MR should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography details
Sony A380 Portrait photography details
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography advice
Sony A380 Street photography advice
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Sony A380 as a Sports photography camera
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography highlights
Sony A380 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery power (220 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
54
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery (500 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Sony A380
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony A380 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A380
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-03-02 2009-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
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
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 519g (1.14 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 614
Other
Battery life 220 photos 500 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $279 $899