Olympus Stylus 1 vs Sony Cyber-shot WX30: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

When it comes to compact cameras with zoom capabilities, two models that often pop up in discussions are the Olympus Stylus 1 (henceforth “Olympus 1”) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 (“Sony WX30”). While they belong to different market segments and debuted a couple of years apart, they both appeal to photographers seeking a "travel-ready" all-in-one shooter without changing lenses. Over the years, I’ve tested thousands of cameras across classes and brands, and these two still merit attention for budget-conscious photographers and enthusiasts who want decent image quality and flexibility on the go.

In this detailed comparative review, I’ll break down how these two cameras perform across photography disciplines, evaluate their technology, ergonomics, and value propositions, and help you figure out which one might be the right pick for your shooting style and wallet.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Build Quality

Let’s start with the physicality because that’s where you “meet” your camera dozens or hundreds of times during a shoot.

The Olympus 1 is a bridge camera with an SLR-like body, significantly larger and heavier than the Sony WX30’s compact pocketable form factor. At 116 x 87 x 57 mm and 402 g, the Olympus sits firmly in your hands and offers more tactile reassurance. The WX30’s dainty 92 x 52 x 19 mm size and 117 g weight make it ultra-portable, perfect for slipping into a jacket pocket or small purse.

What you gain in size with the Olympus is handling and manual control options. It has dedicated dials and buttons (some illuminated) following traditional SLR ergonomics, while the Sony opts for a minimalist design aiming at casual users. The top view layout nicely demonstrates this:

Olympus’ TruePic VI processor and robust body hint at ambitions above simple snapshots. In contrast, the Sony is streamlined, lacking physical external controls for manual exposure modes or aperture priority - a limitation worth bearing in mind.

Build Quality: Neither camera is weather-sealed or shockproof, so keep that in mind if you plan work in rugged conditions. However, the Olympus's more substantial construction feels more durable and reliable in everyday use.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Big Differences

Both cameras use Backside-Illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) sensors, but their sizes and resolutions differ substantially - which is key to image quality.

• Olympus 1 sensor: 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm), 12 MP resolution
• Sony WX30 sensor: 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm), 16 MP resolution

The Olympus 1’s sensor is roughly 48% larger in area than Sony’s. Larger sensors generally deliver better dynamic range, lower noise, and richer colors, especially in low-light situations and wide ISO ranges. The Sony’s higher pixel count is less meaningful because of the smaller sensor area, which translates to smaller pixels - and therefore, more noise at higher ISOs.

For measurable performance, DxOMark scores (a gold standard in sensor analysis) rate the Olympus 1 at an overall 51, with notable color depth (20.7 bits) and dynamic range (11.6 EV). Sony WX30 hasn’t been tested by DxOMark, but based on similar sensor sizes and tech at the time, its performance is modest.

In everyday shooting, this means:

• Olympus 1 produces cleaner images with richer gradients and better shadow detail.
• Sony WX30 images can appear noisier past ISO 800 and struggle more with highlight retention.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Comfort and Compositional Aid

For framing, reviewing, and menu navigation, screen quality and viewfinders are crucial.

The Olympus 1 has a 3” 1040k-dot tilting touchscreen LCD plus a 1440-dot EVF with 100% coverage - rare in this class and handy for bright daylight shooting or precise eye-level composition.

Sony WX30 compensates somewhat with a sharp 3” 922k-dot fixed (non-tilting) XtraFine TFT LCD but lacks a viewfinder altogether. This means shooting in bright sun can be a challenge due to screen glare.

Touch functionality: Olympus features touch AF and menu navigation, increasing speed and ease - particularly useful when focusing on moving subjects or repositioning focus without taking your eye off the viewfinder.

Autofocus Systems and Practical Shooting Performance

Autofocus (AF) can make or break your shooting experience, especially for dynamically changing scenarios like sports, wildlife, or street photography.

• Olympus 1 employs contrast-detection AF with 25 focus points, face detection, and touch-AF capability.
• Sony WX30 uses contrast-detection AF, but with only 9 focus points and no face detection.

The Olympus 1’s richer point coverage, combined with face detection and continuous AF modes, delivers noticeably higher focusing accuracy and speed in daylight and moderately low light. Tracking moving subjects works better here, though it’s still not a pro-level system.

Sony’s autofocus is adequate for static subjects or simple scenarios but can hunt in lower light or with fast-moving subjects due to fewer points and lack of tracking.

Zoom Lenses and Optical Performance: Versatility on the Move

Aside from sensor tech, lens specs are a key differentiator:

The Olympus offers nearly three times the zoom reach with a bright, constant aperture, a big advantage if you need telephoto versatility - say, birders or sports fans shooting from the stands.

Sony’s lens, while wider at the short end (25 mm), stops down from f/2.6 to a rather slow f/6.3 at the tele end, compromising low light and bokeh quality.

The Olympus lens is sharp throughout its zoom range with solid contrast and color, though edge softness at 300 mm is evident - understandable given the zoom power in a fixed lens.

Real World: Portrait Photography

Portraits rely heavily on skin tone reproduction, bokeh quality, and face/eye detection autofocus.

• Olympus 1 excels here due to its fast f/2.8 lens, larger sensor, and face detection AF. The camera smoothly isolates subjects with pleasant background separation, even indoors and in soft natural light.
• Sony WX30’s smaller sensor and variable aperture lens struggle to create creamy bokeh, especially at the telephoto range. Skin tones appear decent but less natural, partly due to the sensor’s limited dynamic range and color depth.

Neither camera supports eye detection AF, which has become a staple for modern portrait work. But face detection and better continuous AF on Olympus help avoid missed focus shots.

Landscape and Outdoor Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range Test

When shooting landscapes, image detail, dynamic range, and durability come into play.

The Olympus 1, with its larger sensor and slightly lower-megapixel count, produces more nuanced gradation in shadows and highlights, crucial for capturing dramatic skies or forest scenes.

Sony WX30, with 16 MP on a smaller sensor, delivers more pixels but less dynamic range, resulting in washed-out skies and clipped shadows when lighting is challenging.

The Olympus’s tilting viewfinder and weathered-like grip enhance comfort during long hikes, but neither camera offers weather sealing, so caution in harsh conditions is advised.

Sports and Wildlife Photography: Burst Speed and Autofocus Tracking

Fast action photography demands quick burst rates and reliable autofocus tracking.

• Olympus 1 shoots at 7 fps continuous, which for a bridge camera is respectable, though buffer depth is limited.
• Sony WX30 boasts 10 fps burst but only with single AF, and image quality suffers at top speed.

Given Olympus’s more advanced AF system and longer zoom reach, I found it generally better suited for capturing wildlife and sports at outdoor events. The Sony’s shorter telephoto range and limited AF tracking reduce its usefulness for those genres.

Street Photography: Portability vs Control

Here’s where the Sony WX30 shines - its tiny size and light weight make it an ideal “stealth” street cam. The Olympus 1 can attract attention with its SLR-style silhouette and larger size.

Low-light street shooting favors Olympus’s better sensor and lens but loses points due to size and shutter noise. The Sony acts more like a point-and-shoot, sacrificing some image fidelity but winning ease of carry and candid shooting.

Macro Photography: Close-up Capability

Both cameras share a 5 cm minimum focus distance in macro mode.

Olympus 1’s larger sensor and constant f/2.8 aperture provide better subject isolation and richer tonality in tiny subjects. Image stabilization aids handheld macro shots as well.

Sony WX30 can capture decent detail but often gives flatter, less dimensional results.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO Performance

Night photography is tough for cameras with small sensors.

Olympus 1’s max ISO of 12800 beats Sony’s 3200 native max, and noise is more controlled on Olympus thanks to its larger sensor and processing engine.

Neither camera offers dedicated long exposure or bulb modes out of the box, limiting astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities: What Can You Expect?

Video specs for both cameras cover Full HD, but with varying frame rates and codec support:

Sony’s 60fps 1080p support gives smoother motion capture advantage over Olympus’s 30p cap for standard video. Olympus’s slow motion modes, though lower resolution, add creative options. The lack of microphone inputs on both underlines their casual use video orientation.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Portability

Travel photographers demand compact, versatile gear often more than ultimate specs.

• Olympus 1’s larger size and weight are tradeoffs for flexibility - bigger zoom, better image quality, and manual controls.
• Sony WX30 is a perfect cheapskate and ultra-lightweight travel companion but compromises in zoom reach and image quality.

Battery life-wise, the Olympus 1 lasts about 410 shots, comfortably exceeding Sony WX30’s 250 shots per charge. That’s something serious travelers will appreciate when charging opportunities are scarce.

Professional Workflow and Reliability

Neither camera targets the pro market, but here’s what to expect:

• Olympus 1 supports RAW capture, essential for advanced post-processing and professional workflows.
• Sony WX30 outputs only JPEG files; no RAW support limits editing latitude.
• Olympus uses older USB 2.0 for data transfer, and both support SD cards but only Olympus can accommodate SDXC for large storage.
• Build-wise, Olympus’s heft and controls offer more reliability and robustness for prolonged shoots.

Connectivity and Extras

• Olympus 1 supports built-in wireless for image transfer (no Bluetooth, NFC).
• Sony WX30 lacks any wireless features; data transfer is strictly wired.
• Both have HDMI ports; Olympus’s is handy for live view to an external monitor.

Summarizing the Scores: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

These charts recap the empirical results:

• Olympus 1 leads overall with balanced high scores in portrait, landscape, wildlife, and macro.
• Sony WX30 still scores respectably in low-stakes photography and excels in portability and street shooting.

Photo Gallery: Sample Images from Both Cameras

Olympus 1 front Olympus 1 screen back Sony WX30 front Sony WX30 screen back

In practice, Olympus provides richer color renditions, cleaner shadows, and better low light results. Sony WX30 photos shine in daylight with punchy colors but falter in dynamic range and noise control.

Pros and Cons Recap

Olympus Stylus 1

Pros:

• Large sensor with excellent image quality
• Bright, constant f/2.8 zoom lens with 10.7x optical range
• Full manual control, RAW support
• Advanced AF with face detection and continuous tracking
• Tilting touchscreen LCD plus electronic viewfinder
• Decent battery life for a bridge camera
• Built-in wireless connectivity

Cons:

• Bulkier, heavier, less pocketable
• No weather sealing
• Older USB 2.0 data transfer
• No headphone or mic input for video
• Mid-2013 tech means no 4K or latest AF features

Sony Cyber-shot WX30

Pros:

• Ultra-compact, pocketable, light
• Decent 16MP sensor for daylight shooting
• Fast 1080p60 video recording
• Simple, easy to use for casual photographers
• Longer battery life than many compacts
• Relatively affordable price

Cons:

• Small sensor with higher noise at low light
• Limited zoom reach (5x max)
• No RAW support
• No manual exposure modes or advanced AF
• No wireless connectivity
• No viewfinder, fixed LCD

Who Should Buy Which? Clear Recommendations

If you’re a budget-conscious enthusiast or semi-pro looking for an all-in-one versatile camera with manual controls, better image quality, and telephoto reach, the Olympus Stylus 1 is your winner. Its handling, RAW support, and sensor size make it a legitimate creative tool. It performs admirably in portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and macro work - especially if you can tolerate extra bulk.

Conversely, if you’re a casual traveler, street photographer, or someone who wants ultra-portability with easy operation, the Sony WX30 remains a compelling low-cost choice. It’s best for daylight use, snapshots, and everyday carry - where image quality compromises are balanced by sheer convenience.

Neither camera is cutting-edge by 2024 standards, but their distinct niches make both still relevant for certain users.

Final Thoughts from Years of Testing

Having tested high-end mirrorless and DSLR bodies, these fixed-lens cameras might look modest on paper but serve as excellent stepping stones or specialized tools for certain niches.

I often hand the Olympus 1 to travelers who want one lens that can do bits of everything decently, especially zooming in on subjects across distance ranges, while still offering manual exposure control and image quality good enough for print and professional work.

The Sony WX30, meanwhile, is what I call a “pocket ninja” for casual outings - light, discreet, with surprisingly good daylight output for social media and family photos. But low light and action shooters will get frustrated.

Keep in mind the prices: the Olympus now hovers around $700 new or less used, reflecting its older generation but powerful feature set. The Sony is much cheaper, around $250, making it ideal for beginners or folks who want a spare camera for easy trips.

Whichever you pick, both can produce rewarding images with a bit of practice and understanding of their limits. I hope this comparison guides you through the practicality beyond specs and marketing hype - because choosing a camera is as much about what you want to shoot as the features you get.

Happy shooting!

This comparison is based on my hands-on testing over multiple sessions and extensive use in real-world scenarios, supplemented by technical analysis from DxOMark scores and manufacturer data. Images used here illustrate key discussion points and show actual output to ground the critique in evidence.