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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5T 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
  • Revealed March 2011
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-5T, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is relatively close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-5T (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 3 years prior to the NEX-5T which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SZ-30MR scores versus the NEX-5T when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-5T 

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

 NEX-5T SZ-30MR 
LaunchedAugust 2013March 2011Newer by 30 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 SZ-30MR NEX-5T 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

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

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5T has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony NEX-5T in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR against the NEX-5T.

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

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

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

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

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specifications. The pic below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and NEX-5T.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The SZ-30MR contains the smaller sensor which should make getting bokeh tougher. The more aged SZ-30MR will be behind in sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography features
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5T Street photography highlights
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
supports touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5T
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
69
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
77
supports touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-5T Landscape photography details
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
73
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-5T
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-03-02 2013-08-27
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 99
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash modes 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
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
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 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 276 grams (0.61 lbs)
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 rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1015
Other
Battery life 220 photos 330 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $279 $400