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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 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 HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 Overview

The following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and HX5 (1/2.4") offer different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 9 months after the HX5 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-30MR matches up vs the HX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony HX5

 SZ-30MR HX5 
LaunchedMarch 2011June 2010Newer by 9 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 HX5 SZ-30MR 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX5

 SZ-30MR HX5 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you'll need to take into account 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") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony HX5 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the HX5.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and HX5 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by going through specifications. The image underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and HX5.

To sum up, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-30MR using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-30MR will produce greater detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent SZ-30MR provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography information
Sony HX5 Portrait photography information
34
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
19
no manual focus
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography info
Sony HX5 Street photography info
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Sony HX5 Sports photography info
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery power (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX5 Landscape photography highlights
41
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery power (220 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
37
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging information
Sony HX5 Vlogging information
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX5
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-03-02 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 226g (0.50 lb) 200g (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $279 $275