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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39
Olympus SZ-30MR front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
79
Features
62
Overall
72

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 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
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Revealed September 2018
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Zeiss ZX1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Zeiss. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-30MR (16MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the SZ-30MR (1/2.3") and ZX1 (Full frame) provide different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-30MR was introduced 8 years before the ZX1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick view of how the SZ-30MR grades vs the ZX1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Zeiss ZX1

 SZ-30MR ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 ZX1 SZ-30MR 
RevealedSeptember 2018March 2011More recent by 92 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size4.34"3"Bigger screen (+1.34")
Screen resolution2765k460kSharper screen (+2305k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-30MR and Zeiss ZX1

 SZ-30MR ZX1 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-30MR offers 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 Zeiss ZX1 has specifications of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-30MR versus Zeiss ZX1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-30MR and the ZX1.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-30MR and ZX1 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The visual below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-30MR and ZX1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-30MR having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Zeiss ZX1 will produce extra detail using its extra 21MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older SZ-30MR will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Portrait photography with Zeiss ZX1
34
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
87
focusing manually
amazing MP (37MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
Street photography with Zeiss ZX1
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
71
fully articulated screen
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
supports focus by touch
good high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than others (800g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR as a Sports photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Sports photography camera
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
64
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
amazing MP (37 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Travel photography advice
Zeiss ZX1 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
65
connects via bluetooth
supports focus by touch
amazing MP (37 megapixels)
good max aperture (f2)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others (800 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography highlights
Zeiss ZX1 Landscape photography highlights
41
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
70
focusing manually
good max aperture (f2)
lovely big screen (4.34")
amazing MP (37MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
Zeiss ZX1 Vlogging features
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
31
good max aperture (f2)
built-in touchscreen
includes face detect focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing mic jack
heavier than others (800g)
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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-30MR and Zeiss ZX1
 Olympus SZ-30MRZeiss ZX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Zeiss
Model Olympus SZ-30MR Zeiss ZX1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-03-02 2018-09-27
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 37 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 7488 x 4992
Max native ISO 3200 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 255
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35mm (1x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2-22
Macro focus range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3" 4.34"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 2,765 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 6,221 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC 512GB internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $279 -