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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus SH-2
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Announced September 2014
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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus SH-3 versus Sony QX30, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Lens-style by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is relatively similar and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was revealed 18 months after the QX30 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the SH-3 grades versus the QX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Sony QX30

 SH-3 QX30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016September 2014Newer by 18 months
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus SH-3

 QX30 SH-3 

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Sony QX30

 SH-3 QX30 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-3 features exterior dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-3 versus Sony QX30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SH-3 versus the QX30.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and QX30 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The image here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and QX30.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Sony QX30 to offer you more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The younger SH-3 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography highlights
Sony QX30 Portrait photography highlights
44
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
no manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
38
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-3
Street photography with Sony QX30
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
lighter than average (271g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
62
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-3
Travel photography with Sony QX30
74
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than average (271g)
offers focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
65
features focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography features
Sony QX30 Landscape photography features
55
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (")
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-3
Vlogging with Sony QX30
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average (271 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Sony QX30
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Lens-style
Introduced 2016-02-08 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" -
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lbs) 193 gr (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 200 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Price at release $579 $348