• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 18.2 megapixels
  • 26.00mm - 130.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Olympus SH-50 advantages over Sony TX30

  • Less expensive
    $300 vs $350 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/3.0 vs f/3.5
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • More telephoto lens reach
    600 mm vs 130 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Longer exposure
    15 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    17 vs 10 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Sony TX30 advantages over Olympus SH-50

  • Waterproof
    Yes vs No
    Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Thinner
    15 mm vs 42 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    141g vs 269g
    Lighter weight
  • More dots on screen
    1229k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

  • Good image and video quality for a compact waterproof camera; Stylish, pocketable design; Improved ruggedness; Speedy performance including 10 fps continuous shooting at full resolution.

  • Touchscreen unusable and unviewable while submerged; Slim, slick design makes it unwieldy to hold (and difficult to hang onto!) underwater; Poor battery life.

  • Read our Sony TX30 Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSC-TX10

Olympus SH-50
Sony DSC-TX10
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Thinner

Compare Olympus SH-50 vs Sony DSC-TX10

Sony TX30
Sony DSC-TX10
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $330
  • 1/2.3 inch

Compare Sony TX30 vs Sony DSC-TX10

Compared to Olympus SZ-30MR

Olympus SH-50
Olympus SZ-30MR
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch

Compare Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Sony TX30
Olympus SZ-30MR
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger lens aperture
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony TX30 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Compared to Sony TX200V

Olympus SH-50
Sony TX200V
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $363
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Manual focus

Compare Olympus SH-50 vs Sony TX200V

Sony TX30
Sony TX200V
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $363
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Sony TX30 vs Sony TX200V

Compared to Olympus SZ-31MR

Olympus SH-50
Olympus SZ-31MR
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR

Sony TX30
Olympus SZ-31MR
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Waterproof
  • Focus peaking
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger lens aperture
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony TX30 vs Olympus SZ-31MR

Compared to Olympus SH-1

Olympus SH-50
Olympus SH-1
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SH-1

Sony TX30
Olympus SH-1
  • $219
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Waterproof
  • $349
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger lens aperture
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Sony TX30 vs Olympus SH-1

Compare Other Cameras?