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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5R Key Specs

Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced March 2011
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-5R, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is very close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-30MR was unveiled 18 months earlier than the NEX-5R making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the NEX-5R when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-5R 

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

 NEX-5R SZ-30MR 
IntroducedAugust 2012March 2011More modern by 18 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-5R 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

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

When you are going to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR enjoys external measurements 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-5R has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

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

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the NEX-5R.

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

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and NEX-5R is 89 and 89 respectively.

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

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

In many cases, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by viewing specifications. The pic below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and NEX-5R.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR provides the smaller sensor which should make achieving bokeh more difficult. The more aged SZ-30MR will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5R
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5R Street photography factors
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
80
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography info
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
68
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography features
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography features
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery life (220 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
73
comes with touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5R
41
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery life (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
75
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging features
34
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
31
touch screen
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no external mic port
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-03-02 2012-08-29
Body design 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 99
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 276g (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 910
Other
Battery life 220 shots 330 shots
Battery form 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 With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $279 $750