Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A450

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A450, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the A450 (14MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A450 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was announced 15 months after the A450 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SZ-30MR scores against the A450 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SZ-30MR & Sony Alpha DSLR-A450. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-30MR Gallery & Sony A450 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR has got exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A450 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A450 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-30MR and the A450.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and A450 is 89 and 65 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing technical specs. The pic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and A450.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus SZ-30MR will offer extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The fresher SZ-30MR should have an advantage in sensor innovation.