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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
Portability
64
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 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
  • Launched March 2011
Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A500
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the A560 (14MP) is very comparable but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A560 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-30MR was introduced 7 months after the A560 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-30MR scores vs the A560 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A560

 SZ-30MR A560 
ReleasedMarch 2011August 2010More modern by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A560 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kClearer display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A560

 SZ-30MR A560 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides 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) and the Sony A560 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the A560.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and A560 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through specifications. The pic underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and A560.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus SZ-30MR will produce greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent SZ-30MR is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography information
Sony A560 Portrait photography information
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Sony A560 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
75
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography details
Sony A560 Sports photography details
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (1,050 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography information
Sony A560 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
better than average battery life (1,050 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography info
Sony A560 Landscape photography info
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery life (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (1,050 CIPA)
two card slots
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging highlights
Sony A560 Vlogging highlights
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing external mic support
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A560
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha DSLR-A560
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-03-02 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing 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 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 599g (1.32 pounds)
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 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 817
Other
Battery life 220 shots 1050 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One Dual
Launch pricing $279 $650