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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 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
  • Introduced March 2011
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced May 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A35
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-30MR was manufactured 14 months before the A37 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the SZ-30MR grades against the A37 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A37

 SZ-30MR A37 
Screen size3"2.6"Bigger screen (+0.4")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A37 SZ-30MR 
AnnouncedMay 2012March 2011More recent by 14 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A37

 SZ-30MR A37 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR provides physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony A37 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-30MR against the A37.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-30MR and A37 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking technical specs. The visual here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and A37.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature the identical MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR provides the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF tougher. The older SZ-30MR is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Sony A37
34
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Sony A37
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography details
Sony A37 Sports photography details
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography factors
Sony A37 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (220 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
54
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (500 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography features
Sony A37 Landscape photography features
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
64
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.6 inches)
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging information
Sony A37 Vlogging information
34
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A37
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony SLT-A37
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony SLT-A37
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-02 2012-05-16
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 2.6"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 506 gr (1.12 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 799
Other
Battery life 220 images 500 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $279 $522