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Olympus E-M5 vs E-30

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Olympus E-30 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2012 and November 2008. The E-M5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the E-30 is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The E-M5 has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the E-30 provides 12.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-M5
versus
Olympus E-30
Olympus E-M5   Olympus E-30
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Micro Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor 12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor
1080/60i Video no Video
ISO 200-25,600 ISO 100-3,200
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 610k dots 2.7" LCD – 230k dots
Tilting touchscreen Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
9 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
360 shots per battery charge750 shots per battery charge
122 x 89 x 43 mm, 425 g 142 x 108 x 75 mm, 701 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Olympus E-30? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-M5 and the Olympus E-30 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-M5 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the E-30 is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-30
Compare E-M5 versus E-30 top
Comparison E-M5 or E-30 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-30 is notably larger (41 percent) than the Olympus E-M5. Moreover, the E-30 is substantially heavier (65 percent) than the E-M5. It is worth mentioning in this context that the E-M5 is splash and dust resistant, while the E-30 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-M5) and the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-30). Mirrorless cameras, such as the Olympus E-M5, have moreover the advantage that they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance and can thus use many lenses from other systems via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the E-M5 gets 360 shots out of its Olympus BLN-1 battery, while the E-30 can take 750 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLM-1 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-M5 122 mm 89 mm 43 mm 425 g 360 Y Feb 2012 1,299ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-30 142 mm 108 mm 75 mm 701 g 750 n Nov 2008 1,299ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 699ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 799ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 699ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-600 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 535 g 500 n Aug 2009 449ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 n Feb 2009 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-M1 130 mm 94 mm 63 mm 497 g 350 Y Sep 2013 1,399ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-M5 II 124 mm 85 mm 45 mm 469 g 310 Y Feb 2015 1,099ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-P5 122 mm 69 mm 37 mm 420 g 330 n May 2013 999ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-PL5 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 n Sep 2012 599ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PL7 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 n Aug 2014 599ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 269 g 360 n Sep 2012 499ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus PEN-F 125 mm 72 mm 37 mm 427 g 330 n Jan 2016 1,199ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH3 133 mm 93 mm 82 mm 550 g 540 Y Sep 2012 1,299ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic GX7 123 mm 71 mm 55 mm 402 g 350 n Aug 2013 999ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic GX8 133 mm 78 mm 63 mm 487 g 330 Y Jul 2015 1,199ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

In terms of chip-set technology, the E-M5 uses a more advanced image processing engine (TruePic VI) than the E-30 (TruePic III+), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-30 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the E-M5 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the E-30. This megapixels advantage translates into a 14 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the E-M5 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 4.29μm for the E-30). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the E-M5 is much more recent (by 3 years and 3 months) than the E-30, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-M5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-M5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-30 are 20.2 x 15.1 inches or 51.2 x 38.4 cm for good quality, 16.1 x 12.1 inches or 41 x 30.7 cm for very good quality, and 13.4 x 10.1 inches or 34.1 x 25.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus E-30 are ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-M5 versus E-30 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under review, the E-M5 provides substantially higher image quality than the E-30, with an overall score that is 16 points higher. This advantage is based on 1.5 bits higher color depth, 1.9 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.6 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-M5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i22.812.382671
2.
 
Olympus E-30 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.453055
3.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
4.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
5.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
6.
 
Olympus E-600 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.510.354155
7.
 
Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.353655
8.
 
Olympus E-M1 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.775773
9.
 
Olympus E-M5 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.012.584273
10.
 
Olympus E-P5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.489572
11.
 
Olympus E-PL5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388972
12.
 
Olympus E-PL7 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.487372
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.293272
14.
 
Olympus PEN-F Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38881080/60p23.112.489474
15.
 
Panasonic GH3 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p22.712.481271
16.
 
Panasonic GX7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.612.271870
17.
 
Panasonic GX8 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.512.680675

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The E-M5 indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the E-30 does not. The highest resolution format that the E-M5 can use is 1080/60i.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-M5 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the E-30 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the E-M5 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the E-30 (98%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the E-M5 has a higher magnification (0.58x vs 0.51x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-30 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-M51440 n3.0 / 610 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s n Y
2.
 
Olympus E-30optical Y2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
6.
 
Olympus E-600optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Olympus E-620optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-M12360 n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
9.
 
Olympus E-M5 II2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
10.
 
Olympus E-P5optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/8000s 9.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Olympus E-PL5optional n3.0 / 460 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
12.
 
Olympus E-PL7optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
14.
 
Olympus PEN-F2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
15.
 
Panasonic GH31746 n3.0 / 614 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
16.
 
Panasonic GX72760 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Panasonic GX82360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The E-M5 has a touchscreen, while the E-30 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The E-30 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the E-M5 does not have a selfie-screen.

The E-M5 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the E-30 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-30 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-M5 only has one slot.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Olympus E-30 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-M5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-30Y- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-600Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-620Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-M1Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
10.
 
Olympus E-P5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
11.
 
Olympus E-PL5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Olympus E-PL7Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
14.
 
Olympus PEN-FYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
15.
 
Panasonic GH3Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y--
16.
 
Panasonic GX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
17.
 
Panasonic GX8Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-

Both the E-M5 and the E-30 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-M5 was replaced by the Olympus E-M5 II, while the E-30 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-M5 and E-30 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-M5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-30 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-M5 or the Olympus E-30 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Advantages of the Olympus OM-D E-M5:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (15.9 vs 12.2MP) with a 14% higher linear resolution.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (16 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
  • Richer colors: Generates images with noticeably better colors (1.5 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (1.9 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.6 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (TruePic VI vs TruePic III+).
  • Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 1080/60i movies.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 98%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.58x vs 0.51x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (610k vs 230k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (122x89mm vs 142x108mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 276g or 39 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 3 months of technical progress since the E-30 launch.


Arguments in favor of the Olympus E-30:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (750 versus 360) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in November 2008).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-M5 is the clear winner of the match-up (19 : 9 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-M5 19:09 E-30

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-M5 and the Olympus E-30 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-M5 or the E-30. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-M54/5+ +..80/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2012 1,299ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-30......71/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2008 1,299ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 699ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 799ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 699ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-600..........4.5/5 Aug 2009 449ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-M15/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2013 1,399ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-M5 II5/5+ +4.5/581/1005/55/5 Feb 2015 1,099ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-P55/5+ +..78/1004.5/55/5 May 2013 999ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-PL53/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 599ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PL74/5+....5/54/5 Aug 2014 599ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-PM23/5....77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 499ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus PEN-F....4/582/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 1,199ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH35/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 1,299ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic GX74/5+..79/1005/55/5 Aug 2013 999ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic GX85/5+..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 1,199ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-30

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-M5 Olympus E-30
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date February 2012 November 2008
    Launch Price USD 1,299 USD 1,299
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-M5 Olympus E-30
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels 12.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 4032 x 3024 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm 4.29 μm
    Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2 5.42 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video no Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 3,200 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic VI TruePic III+
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 71 55
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.8 21.3
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.3 10.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 826 530
    Screen Specs Olympus E-M5 Olympus E-30
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 98%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.58x 0.51x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 2.7inch
    LCD Resolution 610k dots 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-M5 Olympus E-30
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 9 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards CF or XD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-M5 Olympus E-30
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Olympus E-M5 Olympus E-30
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Olympus BLN-1 Olympus BLM-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)360 shots per charge750 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43 mm
    (4.8 x 3.5 x 1.7 in)
    142 x 108 x 75 mm
    (5.6 x 4.3 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 425 g (15.0 oz) 701 g (24.7 oz)
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