Olympus SH-1 vs. Sony QX30: The Ultimate Compact Superzoom and Lens-Style Camera Showdown

When you’re hunting for a versatile camera that bridges the gap between pocket-friendly convenience and powerful zoom capabilities, two models often come up on your radar: the Olympus SH-1 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30. Both announced in 2014, these cameras target enthusiasts seeking long reach without hauling around bulky gear. However, their different approaches - one a traditional compact superzoom, the other a lens-style camera designed to pair with your smartphone - mean the experience and results aren’t quite the same.

Having put both through rigorous real-world and lab testing scenarios over many months, we’re here to guide you through their technical strengths, practical performance, and value propositions. Whether you’re shooting portraits, wildlife, landscapes, or street scenes, this detailed comparison breaks down everything from sensor tech to ergonomics. Let’s dive in and find the best fit for your creative goals.

Size and Handling: Comfortable Grip vs. Modular Freedom

Physically, the Olympus SH-1 and Sony QX30 couldn’t be more different in design philosophy.

• Olympus SH-1: This is a classic compact camera with a DSLR-esque body shape that fits naturally in your hand. At 109 x 63 x 42 mm and weighing 271 grams, it offers a reassuring grip with traditional control placement, making one-handed shooting comfortable. The fixed lens system doesn’t add bulk beyond the body itself, giving you an all-in-one package you can slip into a jacket pocket.

• Sony QX30: As a lens-style camera, the QX30 is essentially a standalone superzoom lens without a built-in screen or traditional grip. It measures 68 x 65 x 58 mm but weighs just 193 grams. This design is compact but requires a smartphone for control and image review, making it more modular but less ergonomic for extended handheld use. Its cylindrical shape is best suited for mounting on phones or tripods.

If you value tactile controls and ready-to-shoot functionality, the Olympus feels more traditional and intuitive. But if you prize minimalism and smartphone integration, the QX30 lets you keep your phone front and center.

User Interface and Controls: Classic vs. Touch-Centric

Examining their top control layouts yields a similar story of traditional vs. innovative.

• Olympus SH-1 sports a more conventional button and dial arrangement, including a manual exposure mode - rare for compact cameras at this price point. Unfortunately, it lacks shutter or aperture priority modes but offers exposure compensation and custom white balance settings. Built-in flash and a single onboard microphone port further round out its comprehensive setup.

• Sony QX30 eliminates traditional physical controls entirely, relying heavily on touchscreen operation via the smartphone app. It supports shutter and aperture priority modes but does not offer manual exposure control. A Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection means you interact through your phone UI for settings, focus, and image review - a design tradeoff that requires a learning curve but allows for a clutter-free lens design.

Both feature touchscreen live view for autofocus, but the SH-1’s dedicated buttons enable quicker adjustments without fumbling through phone menus.

Sensor and Image Quality: Resolution and Noise Performance

Sensor specs are key to understanding image fidelity. Both cameras sport a 1/2.3" backside-illuminated CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, a common choice in this superzoom category, balancing size and cost.

The Sony QX30 edges out slightly in resolution, delivering 20MP vs. Olympus’s 16MP, which translates into more detail retention, especially for large prints or cropping flexibility. However, the SH-1 impresses with a wider ISO range up to 6400 compared to the QX30's 3200, theoretically offering better low-light sensitivity - though noise becomes a concern at higher ISOs on such small sensors.

In practice, testing revealed:

• Both cameras manage daylight shots well with vivid colors and reasonable dynamic range, though the Olympus SH-1 has a slight advantage in handling shadows due to more flexible ISO options.

• Noise levels remain manageable up to ISO 800 for both, with the SH-1 showing smoother grain at ISO 1600, helpful in dim conditions.

• Neither supports RAW shooting, limiting post-processing latitude - something to weigh if you prefer extensive editing.

From our real-world comparisons, the QX30’s higher resolution gives punchier detail, while the SH-1’s sensor shines in slightly darker environments.

Viewing Experience: Fixed Screen vs. Smartphone Display

• The Olympus SH-1 features a fixed 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 460k-dot resolution. Though modest by modern standards, it offers bright, clear previews and touch AF control.

• The Sony QX30 has no physical display. Instead, you use your smartphone screen via the connected app, which allows for live view, focus control, and image review. This limits standalone usability but expands screen size and interaction flexibility dependent on your phone model.

For photographers wanting immediate, camera-integrated feedback, Olympus wins hands-down. Sony’s approach excels if you want a larger viewing platform and are comfortable tethering your camera to a smartphone.

Lens and Zoom Performance: Reach and Image Stabilization

Both cameras feature remarkable superzoom lenses with manual focus disabled but impressive focal length coverage:

The Sony QX30’s 30x zoom lens extends slightly farther (720mm vs. 600mm equivalent), granting extra reach for distant subjects such as wildlife or sports. The maximum aperture is similar at the wide end, but the SH-1 opens slightly faster at f/3.0 vs. f/3.5 on the QX30, potentially aiding in low light or shallow depth of field.

Both incorporate effective image stabilization: Olympus uses a sensor-shift system offering 5-axis correction, beneficial for reducing blur in handheld shots across different focal lengths, while Sony employs optical stabilization within the lens. During testing, Olympus’s IS was marginally more effective in telephoto shots, letting you shoot sharper images at slower shutter speeds.

For macro enthusiasts, Olympus’s 3 cm minimum focusing distance offers more creative close-up options out of the box.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

• The Olympus SH-1 utilizes contrast-detection autofocus with multiple AF modes including face detection, live view touch AF, and continuous tracking. It also supports AF tracking and multi-area AF, which helps keep moving subjects sharp.

• Sony QX30 features a contrast-detection AF system with face detection and multi-area modes but does not offer continuous AF tracking.

In practical use:

• Olympus’s continuous AF tracking performed better locking onto moving targets, valuable for wildlife and sports.

• Sony’s autofocus was responsive but occasionally slower to reacquire focus during burst shooting or erratic movement.

The SH-1’s more versatile AF modes and tracking support grant it an edge in capturing action and variable scenes confidently.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speed Range

When shooting action or fleeting moments, frame rates and shutter speeds matter.

Olympus offers an impressive 12 fps burst rate at full resolution, outperforming Sony’s 10 fps capability. The faster maximum shutter speed (1/2000 sec vs 1/1600 sec) also allows better freezing of fast motion and very bright light conditions.

Shutter speeds below 4 seconds on the QX30 limit long exposure opportunities, while Olympus supports up to 30 seconds, making it more suitable for night or astrophotography settings.

Olympus SH 1 front Olympus SH 1 screen back Sony QX30 front Sony QX30 screen back

Real-World Image Samples: Colors, Sharpness, and Bokeh

In our side-by-side test gallery, you’ll notice:

• Portraits: The Olympus SH-1 produces more natural skin tones and better bokeh with smoother out-of-focus backgrounds thanks to its wider aperture at 25mm and superior autofocus tracking.

• Landscapes: Sony’s higher resolution showed more detail in foliage textures, but Olympus captured wider dynamic range, preserving detail in shadows and highlights better.

• Wildlife and sports: Olympus’s faster autofocus and higher burst speed delivered more keeper shots, though Sony’s longer zoom lens helped frame more distant subjects sharply if you don’t mind slower focus.

The trade-off generally is Olympus for predictability and ease, Sony for smartphone-centric versatility and slightly higher resolution.

Video Capabilities: Which Camera Shoots Better Footage?

• Olympus SH-1 records Full HD 1920 x 1080 video at 60p and 30p frames per second with H.264 codec, includes a built-in microphone port, and offers in-camera stabilization.

• Sony QX30 also records Full HD at 60p and 30p but in MPEG-4 format, lacks a microphone port, and relies solely on optical image stabilization.

If you plan to shoot videos regularly, Olympus’s audio input and sensor-shift IS will produce smoother, higher quality footage with more sound flexibility. Sony’s simpler video features suit casual video capture but lack professional upgrade paths.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Both models have plastic bodies and lack weather sealing or ruggedization, making them best suited for careful handling in dry conditions. Neither is waterproof or dustproof. Olympus, being slightly heavier and larger, feels more substantial but both are designed as lightweight, everyday superzooms rather than pro-grade robust tools.

Battery Life and Storage Options

• Olympus SH-1 uses the LI-92B battery, rated for 380 shots per charge, more than enough for an active day of shooting without frequent swaps.

• Sony QX30’s NP-BN battery delivers about 200 shots, less than Olympus but typical for a lens-style shooter with wireless dependencies.

Regarding storage:

• Olympus uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards plus some internal memory.

• Sony opts for smaller microSD and Memory Stick Micro cards, reflecting its different design but potentially less flexible for capacity upgrades.

Longer battery life and easier expandability give Olympus an advantage for travel or extended sessions away from power.

Which Camera Excels at Your Favorite Photography Genre?

Connectivity and Wireless: How Smart Are These Cameras?

Both cameras incorporate Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer and remote control.

• The Sony QX30 has NFC for quick pairing with compatible devices, facilitating easy smartphone hookup.

• Olympus offers built-in wireless but no NFC or Bluetooth.

You’ll trade off quick pairing and phone focus interactivity on Sony for the standalone shooting convenience on Olympus.

Price-to-Performance: Finding Your Best Value

Both cameras launched around $350, positioning them affordably for enthusiasts stepping up from smartphones.

• Olympus SH-1 offers better ergonomics, longer battery, manual controls, and video flexibility - great if you want an independent, self-contained camera.

• Sony QX30 provides excellent zoom range and smartphone integration, appealing if you want to keep your phone central or prioritize portability.

For this budget, the Olympus wins for most traditional camera use cases. Sony suits gadget lovers who want modular flexibility and extreme zoom.

Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

The Olympus SH-1 stands out as the all-around, ready-to-go companion for photographers craving control, battery longevity, and solid image stabilization packed in a familiar, comfortable body. Its manual exposure mode, fast burst shooting, and sensor-shift IS make it versatile across landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and casual video.

The Sony QX30, conversely, is a novel concept: a "lens camera" that syncs to your smartphone, extending your phone’s photographic reach to an extraordinary 720mm with a 30x zoom. Its higher megapixels add detail, but limited controls and a lack of continuous AF tracking reduce usability for fast action. It best serves users wanting a featherlight, modular setup centered on smartphone integration, with occasional telephoto needs.

Getting Started with Either Camera

• The Olympus SH-1 includes its own screen and all controls, so just charge the battery, insert an SD card, and you’re good to shoot. Consider pairing with lightweight tripods or external flashes for stable low-light and creative lighting.

• The Sony QX30 requires your smartphone for viewfinder and settings management. Download Sony’s PlayMemories app, pair via Wi-Fi or NFC, then mount on your phone or tripod. Explore smartphone remote controls and experiment with manual aperture/shutter priority modes.

In conclusion, the choice boils down to your shooting style and ecosystem preferences.

• Want a straightforward, dependable superzoom compact? Olympus SH-1 delivers.

• Want a smartphone-centric, ultra-zoom lens module? Sony QX30 is compelling.

Either way, embracing these cameras means unlocking creative potential beyond the smartphone camera without breaking your back or budget. Check out hands-on demos, consider your shooting priorities, and start exploring the world with newfound reach and versatility!

We hope this detailed comparison helps you navigate the compact superzoom landscape. For dedicated portrait, landscape, wildlife, or everyday shooting, both cameras offer unique strengths worth your exploration.