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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V 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 HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Older Model is Sony HX300
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony HX400V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the HX400V (20MP) is fairly well matched and they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was unveiled 3 years before the HX400V and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ-30MR grades vs the HX400V for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony HX400V

 SZ-30MR HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 HX400V SZ-30MR 
IntroducedFebruary 2014March 2011Fresher by 35 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX400V

 SZ-30MR HX400V 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR has physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony HX400V has proportions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") along with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony HX400V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR vs the HX400V.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and HX400V is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and HX400V.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can anticipate the Sony HX400V to give greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography factors
Sony HX400V Portrait photography factors
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
51
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography details
Sony HX400V Street photography details
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
50
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than others (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Sony HX400V Sports photography info
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
53
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (660 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX400V Landscape photography highlights
41
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
49
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX400V as a Vlogging camera
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
29
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than others (660 grams)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX400V
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-03-02 2014-02-12
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum 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
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 660 gr (1.46 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 300 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $279 $448