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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 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-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 9 months later than the NEX-5 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SZ-30MR scores versus the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony NEX-5

 SZ-30MR NEX-5 
IntroducedMarch 2011June 2010More recent by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 NEX-5 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-5

 SZ-30MR NEX-5 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR has got physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the NEX-5.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The photograph below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and NEX-5.

All in all, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus SZ-30MR will result in extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger SZ-30MR will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
72
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
76
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
52
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography features
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
68
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
28
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no mic socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 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 dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
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 diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life 220 shots 330 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $279 $599