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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
57
Features
57
Overall
57

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Sony NEX-C3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 225g - 110 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-F3
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-C3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-C3 (16MP) is pretty close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-C3 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-30MR was announced 5 months before the NEX-C3 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-C3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SZ-30MR matches up vs the NEX-C3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony NEX-C3

 SZ-30MR NEX-C3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-C3 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 NEX-C3 SZ-30MR 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-C3

 SZ-30MR NEX-C3 
AnnouncedMarch 2011August 2011Same generation
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-C3 has proportions of 110mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-C3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the NEX-C3.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and NEX-C3 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and NEX-C3.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide the same megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR has got the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more challenging.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Portrait photography details
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography details
Sony NEX-C3 Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than others (225 grams)
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Sony NEX-C3
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
53
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery (400 CIPA)
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-C3 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
good battery (400 CIPA)
lighter than others (225 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-C3 Landscape photography highlights
41
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Sony NEX-C3 Vlogging features
34
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
27
lighter than others (225g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-C3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-C3
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-C3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-C3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-03-02 2011-08-22
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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 225g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 60 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 1083
Other
Battery life 220 photos 400 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $279 $343