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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3N

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
52
Overall
55

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3N 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 NEX-3N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-F3
  • Newer Model is Sony a5000
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3N Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3N, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was manufactured 24 months earlier than the NEX-3N making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the NEX-3N in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-3N 

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

 NEX-3N SZ-30MR 
IntroducedFebruary 2013March 2011Fresher by 24 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-3N 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

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

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3N in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-30MR and the NEX-3N.

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

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and NEX-3N is 89 and 89 respectively.

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

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

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The photograph below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and NEX-3N.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have the same megapixels but different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR provides the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult. The older SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3N Portrait photography features
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography details
Sony NEX-3N Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography information
Sony NEX-3N Sports photography information
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
53
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (480 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-3N Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition (226g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery pack (480 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-3N as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
70
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (480 CIPA)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging details
Sony NEX-3N Vlogging details
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no mic support
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing microphone port
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-3N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-3N
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-3N
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-3N
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-03-02 2013-02-25
Body design 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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 62 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 1067
Other
Battery life 220 photos 480 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $279 $399