Olympus SZ-30MR vs Canon D20 Comparison

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Olympus SZ-30MR

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Canon D20

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Olympus SZ-30MR vs Canon D20 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Olympus SZ-30MR, which was introduced in March 2011 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Canon D20, which was introduced in June 2013 is a Waterproof camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, SZ-30MR is 2 years older than D20. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-03-02

16MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200

25-600 mm F3.0-6.9 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

2 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

226g. 106 x 69 x 40 mm

Canon D20 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-06-18

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

28-140 mm F3.9-4.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

Unknown continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

Built-in GPS

228g. 112 x 71 x 28 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Olympus SZ-30MR over Canon PowerShot D20

Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter	1/1700s vs 1/1600s	faster mechanical shutter
Weight	226 g vs 228 g	2 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide	25mm vs 28mm	3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele	600mm vs 140mm	460 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	24× vs 5×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	3.00 vs 3.90	faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage	4.0m vs 3.5m	0.5m longer range

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot D20 over Olympus SZ-30MR

GPS	BuiltIn vs None	track your location
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	4.80 vs 6.90	faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²	32% larger pixel area

Common Strengths of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon PowerShot D20

Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits

Common Weaknesses of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon PowerShot D20

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution	460k dots vs 461k dots	Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting	2.0fps vs fps	Slow shooting speeds
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Canon D20: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Olympus SZ-30MR has external dimensions of 106 x 69 x 40 mm (4.17 x 2.72 x 1.57″) and weighs 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz) (including batteries). Canon D20 has external dimensions of 112 x 71 x 28 mm (4.41 x 2.8 x 1.1″) and weighs 228 g (0.50 lb / 8.04 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20. Olympus SZ-30MR is 6mm narrower and 2mm shorter than Canon D20 but it is also 12mm thicker.

Comparison image of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20.

Top View Comparison image of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus SZ-30MR is 2g lighter than the Canon D20 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

SZ-30MR

D20

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

SZ-30MR

D20

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Canon D20: Sensor Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features TruePic III+ processor. On the other hand, Canon D20 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 4 processor.

Below you can see the SZ-30MR and D20 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 Cameras

Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Canon D20 has 32% larger pixel area (2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²) compared to Olympus SZ-30MR, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Canon D20 Lens Specs Comparison

Olympus SZ-30MR features a 25-600 mm F3.0-6.9 24× zoom lens whereas Canon D20 features a 28-140 mm F3.9-4.8 5× zoom lens.

Olympus SZ-30MR has 3mm wider coverage than the Canon D20. At f3.00, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Olympus SZ-30MR has 460mm longer reach than the Canon D20. However, with a max aperture of f4.80, Canon D20 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR

D20

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR

D20

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR

D20

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SZ-30MR

D20

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Olympus SZ-30MR for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon D20 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon D20 for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.90
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon D20 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
600 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1700s
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.90
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
140 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon D20 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
226g
24.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Body Thickness 40mm
Read the details

Compact Body
228g
Environmental Sealings
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon D20 for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Built-in GPS
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Olympus SZ-30MR vs Canon D20: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Olympus SZ-30MR and Canon D20 scores compare:

Olympus SZ-30MR

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #213 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #790 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon D20

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #121 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #615 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon D20 has a higher Overall Score than the Olympus SZ-30MR. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that D20 trails behind the SZ-30MR: Imaging
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Olympus SZ-30MR. If not, we recommend the Canon D20.

Canon D20 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Olympus SZ-30MR	Canon PowerShot D20
Brand	Olympus	Canon
Announced	2011-03-02	2013-06-18
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	16 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	n/a	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-600 mm (24×)	28-140 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F3.0-6.9	F3.9-4.8
Macro Focus Range	1cm	1cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	460k dots	461k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/1700s	1/1600s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	4.00 m	3.50 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps	n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4	H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Eye-Fi Connected	Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	226g	228g
Dimensions	106 x 69 x 40mm	112 x 71 x 28mm
Battery Life	220 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction