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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III 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 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 IV
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony RX100 III, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is very similar but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and RX100 III (1") come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 4 years earlier than the RX100 III and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SZ-30MR grades vs the RX100 III with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 SZ-30MR RX100 III 

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

 RX100 III SZ-30MR 
ReleasedMay 2014March 2011More recent by 39 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kCrisper display (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

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

 SZ-30MR RX100 III 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR has got outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony RX100 III has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

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

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-30MR against the RX100 III.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-30MR and RX100 III is 89 and 89 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to see the gap between sensor measurements just by reading technical specs. The graphic underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and RX100 III.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony RX100 III will offer extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Portrait photography camera
34
good MP (16MP)
features face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
64
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography details
Sony RX100 III Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography information
Sony RX100 III Sports photography information
41
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Travel photography with Sony RX100 III
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
85
lighter than competition in class (290g)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography information
41
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery power (220 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging info
Sony RX100 III Vlogging info
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
80
quite wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
missing mic socket
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony RX100 III
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2011-03-02 2014-05-15
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
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
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 290 grams (0.64 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 495
Other
Battery life 220 shots 320 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $279 $748