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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 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 A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A55
  • Later Model is Sony A58
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A57, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-30MR was revealed 18 months before the A57 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the SZ-30MR matches up versus the A57 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Sony A57

 SZ-30MR A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 A57 SZ-30MR 
ReleasedSeptember 2012March 2011Newer by 18 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A57

 SZ-30MR A57 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-30MR has got exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Sony A57 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-30MR versus the A57.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and A57 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading specifications. The pic underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-30MR and A57.

To sum up, the two cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The SZ-30MR features the tinier sensor which will make achieving bokeh more challenging. The more aged SZ-30MR is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography information
Sony A57 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography advice
Sony A57 Sports photography advice
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Landscape photography with Sony A57
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
72
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
Sony A57 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
77
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Sony A57
 Olympus SZ-30MRSony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-30MR Sony SLT-A57
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-03-02 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 lbs) 618g (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life 220 shots 550 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $279 $1,000