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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
68
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44
Nikon Coolpix B500 front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Key Specs

Nikon B500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-900mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 541g - 114 x 78 x 95mm
  • Launched February 2016
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Following is a extended comparison of the Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the B500 (16MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) is relatively well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The B500 was brought out 4 years after the SZ-31MR iHS which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon B500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the B500 scores versus the SZ-31MR iHS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon B500 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 B500 SZ-31MR iHS 
LaunchedFebruary 2016February 2012More modern by 50 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Nikon B500

 SZ-31MR iHS B500 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 B500 SZ-31MR iHS 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon B500 comes with outside measurements of 114mm x 78mm x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 541 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the B500 compared to the SZ-31MR iHS.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the B500 and SZ-31MR iHS is 68 and 89 respectively.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the B500 and SZ-31MR iHS.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution so you can expect similar quality of files however you should factor the age of the products into consideration. The more modern B500 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon B500
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
37
good resolution (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon B500 Street photography advice
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography advice
52
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competitors (541 grams)
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon B500 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography highlights
51
incredible zoom range (23-900mm 39.1 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
great battery (600 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon B500
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
59
great battery (600 shots)
supports bluetooth
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (23mm)
long zoom (900mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (541g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
offers focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (200 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon B500 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography highlights
45
decently wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
great battery (600 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery life (200 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon B500 Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging info
27
decently wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (541g)
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
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Nikon B500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon B500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Nikon Coolpix B500Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix B500 Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-02-23 2012-02-08
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Dual TruePic V
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-900mm (39.1x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.4 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 9.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 541 gr (1.19 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 78 x 95mm (4.5" x 3.1" x 3.7") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
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 600 shots 200 shots
Battery format AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $300 $0