Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A900

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A900, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and A900 (25MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A900 (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-30MR was revealed 2 years after the A900 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ-30MR grades vs the A900 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony Alpha DSLR-A900. The full galleries are available at Olympus SZ-30MR Gallery and Sony A900 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR enjoys physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A900 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A900 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-30MR and the A900.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and A900 is 89 and 54 respectively.

Quite often, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing specifications. The image underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and A900.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A900 will provide extra detail because of its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern SZ-30MR should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.