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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 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
  • Announced March 2011
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-C3
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-3N
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-F3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was announced 17 months before the NEX-F3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the NEX-F3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony NEX-F3

 SZ-30MR NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 NEX-F3 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedAugust 2012March 2011More modern by 17 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-F3

 SZ-30MR NEX-F3 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR has physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-F3 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 differ based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the NEX-F3.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and NEX-F3 is 89 and 86 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to see the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The image underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and NEX-F3.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR includes the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography factors
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography info
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
76
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Sony NEX-F3
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
53
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (470 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography info
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
good battery power (470 CIPA)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography factors
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (470 per charge)
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging factors
Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging factors
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
27
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no mic socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-03-02 2012-08-16
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
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 distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 314g (0.69 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1114
Other
Battery life 220 images 470 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $279 $470