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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Announced March 2011
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-5N, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is fairly similar but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-5N (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 7 months earlier than the NEX-5N which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the NEX-5N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-5N 

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

 NEX-5N SZ-30MR 
RevealedOctober 2011March 2011More modern by 7 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-5N 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

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

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR comes with 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 NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the NEX-5N.

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

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

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

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

Sometimes, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading specifications. The picture here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and NEX-5N.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature the identical megapixels but different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR uses the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
34
MP count decent (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Sony NEX-5N Street photography information
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
80
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
58
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (460 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
70
great battery pack (460 per charge)
provides touch to focus
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography info
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
71
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (460 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
33
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-03-02 2011-10-03
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 AVCHD
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 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") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 220 photos 460 photos
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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $279 $550