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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V 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
  • Revealed March 2011
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched April 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony HX30V
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony HX50V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the HX50V (20MP) is very close and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-30MR was released 3 years earlier than the HX50V and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SZ-30MR matches up vs the HX50V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony HX50V

 SZ-30MR HX50V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 HX50V SZ-30MR 
LaunchedApril 2013March 2011More recent by 26 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX50V

 SZ-30MR HX50V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR features outer 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) whilst the Sony HX50V has measurements of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony HX50V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the HX50V.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and HX50V is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The photograph below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and HX50V.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony HX50V to render more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography information
Sony HX50V Portrait photography information
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
50
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (272g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography details
Sony HX50V Sports photography details
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has tracking focus
great battery (400 CIPA)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography advice
Sony HX50V Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery (400 per charge)
lighter than others (272 grams)
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5 )
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography information
Sony HX50V Landscape photography information
41
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
missing Timelapse function
53
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
great battery (400 shots)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5 )
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging advice
Sony HX50V Vlogging advice
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone port
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (272g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5 )
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX50V
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-03-02 2013-04-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 2920
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 lb) 272 gr (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
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 pictures 400 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
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
Pricing at launch $279 $439