Olympus
SZ-30MR
 vs
Sony Cybershot
DSC-HX9v

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

67

  
Olympus SZ-30MR

59

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
30 seconds
 
Runner-up

Olympus SZ-30MR

Reasons to buy the Olympus SZ-30MR

Zoom
 Great zoom
24x
Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/3.0
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
6,400 ISO
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus SZ-30MR
Zoom More zoom 24x vs 16x
Help
 Around 2.5x more zoom
Aperture Wider aperture f/3.0 vs f/3.3
Help
 At its widest zoom, the SZ-30MR's lens captures marginally more light (0.3 f-stops)
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 40% closer to the lens
Fastest shutter speed Slightly faster max shutter speed 1/1700s vs 1/1600s
Help
 Around 10% faster max shutter speed
Olympus SZ-30MR Learn more about
the Olympus SZ-30MR

Advantages of the Sony DSC-HX9v
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Wide angle Slightly better wide angle 24 mm vs 25 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift, Digital
Help
 Less risk of blur
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Size Slightly smaller 105x59x34 mm vs 106x69x40 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 30s vs 4s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.3" vs 1.6"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $314.01 vs $376.03
Help
 The best price we've seen is $62 cheaper (around 20% less)
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v Learn more about
the Sony DSC-HX9v
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent travel zooms, and ignoring price

Olympus SZ-30MR Olympus SZ-30MR
59 vs 67
Explain scores
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v.

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Lowest price Very expensive Help
SZ-30MR:$376.03
DSC-HX9v:$314.01

Compared to recent travel zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
SZ-30MR:6,400 ISO
DSC-HX9v:None
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
High-speed framerate No high speed movie support Help
Not supported

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

Travel zoom

$300 - $378
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$199
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the PowerShot SX230 HS vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$259 - $269
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10

Travel zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Lumix DMC-ZS10 vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$282
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Travel zoom

$299
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Panasonic Lumix ZS30

Panasonic Lumix ZS30

Travel zoom

$399
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Compare the Lumix ZS30 vs the SZ-30MR
Compare the Lumix ZS30 vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Olympus SZ-30MR Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Olympus SZ-31MR

Travel zoom

$271 - $280
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the SZ-31MR vs the SZ-30MR
Olympus SZ-14

Olympus SZ-14

Digicam

$203 - $304
3D Takes 3D photos
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the SZ-14 vs the SZ-30MR
Olympus SP-720UZ

Olympus 720UZ

Super zoom

$179 - $199
3D Takes 3D photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Compare the 720UZ vs the SZ-30MR
Olympus SP-810 UZ

Olympus SP-810 UZ

Super zoom

$180
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Slightly better wide angle
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the SP-810 UZ vs the SZ-30MR

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V

Travel zoom

$413
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Wide angle Slightly worse wide angle
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90

Travel zoom

$119 - $130
Lowest price Significantly cheaper
Weight Slightly lighter
GPS No built-in GPS
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-H90 vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX7V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v

Travel zoom
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Aperture Narrower aperture
Zoom Less zoom
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX7v vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V

Travel zoom

$366
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability
Wide angle Slightly worse wide angle
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Compare the Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V vs the Cybershot DSC-HX9v

appearance

Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v
Olympus SZ-30MR Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Guest (4:42 PM, September 12, 2011)
I ve just come back from the store where I compared both of them. It appeared to me that with sony, the images get sharper and with more natural colour than with Olympus. On the other hand the zoom of Olympus was better so the the fine details can be seen at higher resolution providing that you have a very stable hand!
 
theraspberrypicker (3:29 PM, September 08, 2011)
If Olympus SZ30MR has a wider aperture, higher ISO, better macro, more zoom than Sony HX9V, and is cheaper...
Why is the Sony camera still having the best score and 100% of specifications?
Or better to ask: What's the main reason to chose the Sony camera instead the Olympus?
I'm just searching for the best travel zoom to get,
Thanks a lot and regards to all snapsort mates!