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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 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 RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Successor is Sony RX100 II
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is very well matched but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-30MR was brought out 18 months before the RX100 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SZ-30MR grades versus the RX100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony RX100

 SZ-30MR RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 RX100 SZ-30MR 
LaunchedAugust 2012March 2011Fresher by 18 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display resolution1229k460kCrisper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony RX100

 SZ-30MR RX100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-30MR has outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony RX100 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-30MR and the RX100.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and RX100 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking specifications. The visual here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-30MR and RX100.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony RX100 will give you more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
64
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
79
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (240g)
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Sports photography with Sony RX100
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
features tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography information
Sony RX100 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
79
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 Landscape photography highlights
41
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
74
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
Vlogging with Sony RX100
34
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
38
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony RX100
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2011-03-02 2012-08-28
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
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 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 390
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $279 $448