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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 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
  • Released March 2011
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released September 2018
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the HX99 (18MP) is relatively close but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-30MR was launched 8 years before the HX99 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the HX99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony HX99

 SZ-30MR HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 HX99 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedSeptember 2018March 2011More modern by 91 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX99

 SZ-30MR HX99 
Screen sizing3"3.00"Equivalent screen sizing

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-30MR comes with exterior 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 HX99 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-30MR compared to the HX99.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and HX99 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The pic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-30MR and HX99.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-30MR due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX99 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged SZ-30MR will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Portrait photography camera
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
53
has manual focus
good MP (18MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Sony HX99
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
77
screen tilts
has image stabilization
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (242 grams)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Sports photography camera
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
58
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
good MP (18MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery (360 shots)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography advice
Sony HX99 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
76
great battery (360 shots)
lighter than competition (242 grams)
good MP (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography advice
Sony HX99 Landscape photography advice
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
58
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3.00")
has image stabilization
good MP (18MP)
saves RAW formats
great battery (360 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3-inch)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX99 as a Vlogging camera
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing mic jack
76
decently wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has image stabilization
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (242g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have external mic port
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony HX99
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-03-02 2018-09-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3.00"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 AVCHD, XAVC S
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 242 gr (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 photos 360 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $279 $469