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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 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
  • Announced March 2011
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was released 19 months later than the A500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SZ-30MR grades against the A500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A500

 SZ-30MR A500 
IntroducedMarch 2011August 2009Fresher by 19 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A500 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A500

 SZ-30MR A500 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR features exterior 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 A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the A500.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and A500 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to see the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through technical specs. The visual below will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and A500.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR because of its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Olympus SZ-30MR will render extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The younger SZ-30MR will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography information
Sony A500 Sports photography information
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
43
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery life (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery pack (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A500
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-03-02 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 630 grams (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 520 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $279 $638