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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Released March 2011
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX20V
  • New Model is Sony HX50V
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly similar and they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was manufactured 12 months prior to the HX30V so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SZ-30MR grades vs the HX30V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony HX30V

 SZ-30MR HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 HX30V SZ-30MR 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012March 2011More recent by 12 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display resolution922k460kSharper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX30V

 SZ-30MR HX30V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR has external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX30V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR and the HX30V.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and HX30V is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by going over technical specs. The photograph below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and HX30V.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony HX30V to deliver extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography factors
Sony HX30V Portrait photography factors
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Sony HX30V
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Sony HX30V
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography advice
Sony HX30V Landscape photography advice
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
50
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
34
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX30V
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-03-02 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 254 gr (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 320 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $279 $420