Clicky

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 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
  • Announced March 2011
Sony TX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 58 x 17mm
  • Revealed August 2009
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony TX1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and TX1 (10MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and TX1 (1/2.4") enjoy different sensor measurements.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The SZ-30MR was launched 20 months later than the TX1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony TX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-30MR grades against the TX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony TX1

 SZ-30MR TX1 
RevealedMarch 2011August 2009Fresher by 20 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony TX1 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 TX1 SZ-30MR 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony TX1

 SZ-30MR TX1 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-30MR has outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony TX1 has proportions of 94mm x 58mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony TX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the TX1.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and TX1 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and TX1.

Clearly, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-30MR featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus SZ-30MR will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent SZ-30MR provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Sony TX1 as a Portrait photography camera
34
MP count good (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Sony TX1
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
Sony TX1 Sports photography info
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 shots)
no phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,250 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect AF
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
Sony TX1 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition (226g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography information
Sony TX1 Landscape photography information
41
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
31
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging highlights
Sony TX1 Vlogging highlights
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
28
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony TX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony TX1
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2011-03-02 2009-08-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing range 1cm 8cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1250s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 lbs) 142 gr (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 94 x 58 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $279 $350