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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 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
  • Released March 2011
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-C3
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was unveiled 9 months later than the NEX-3 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony NEX-3

 SZ-30MR NEX-3 
ReleasedMarch 2011June 2010Fresher by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 NEX-3 SZ-30MR 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-3

 SZ-30MR NEX-3 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers 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) while the Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-30MR against the NEX-3.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and NEX-3 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and NEX-3.

All in all, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-30MR will render greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SZ-30MR provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-3
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
72
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Sony NEX-3
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
76
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
52
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition (226g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-3 Landscape photography highlights
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery power (220 per charge)
no Timelapse function
68
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging highlights
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
27
comes with face detect focusing
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-3
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-03-02 2010-06-07
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom 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, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Microphone 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 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 297 gr (0.65 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 68
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.0
DXO Low light score not tested 830
Other
Battery life 220 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $279 $0