Olympus E-450 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS: A Thorough Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing a camera isn’t just about specs on a sheet; it’s about how those specs work in the real world and how the camera fits your style of shooting. Today, I’m diving deeply into two Olympus cameras from fairly different niches: the Olympus E-450, an entry-level DSLR introduced back in 2009, and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, a small-sensor superzoom compact from 2012. Both carry the Olympus legacy but cater to quite distinct photographic needs.

Based on my extensive hands-on testing over the years, I’ll break down their key attributes, performance nuances, and value across multiple genres - from portraits to wildlife - to help you figure out which suits your art or work best. Let’s jump in.

Body and Ergonomics: Handling Two Worlds of Design

Right off the bat, these cameras speak to different user groups physically and ergonomically. The E-450 is a compact SLR - larger, more deliberate in design - while the SZ-31MR iHS is a compact, pocketable superzoom.

The E-450's dimensions (130x91x53 mm, 426g) and substantial grip give it a reassuring feel when shooting handheld, especially with larger lenses typical of the DSLR world. The SZ-31MR, much smaller (106x69x40 mm, 226g), easily slips into a jacket pocket or purse, making it ideal for casual travel or everyday carry.

Looking at the top controls too reveals their ergonomic design intent:

The E-450 sports dedicated dials and buttons - shutter speed, aperture adjustment, exposure compensation, and mode selection are physically accessible, crucial for photographers who want quick manual control. Its pentamirror optical viewfinder, with 95% coverage and 0.46x magnification, still provides an old-school shooting feel and critical visibility in sunlight.

The SZ-31MR iHS, on the other hand, favors simplicity and touchscreen input. It lacks a viewfinder but offers a 3-inch hypercrystal III TFT touchscreen with 920K dots resolution, a notable upgrade in the compact segment. This makes composing on the go intuitive, although manual shooting options are minimal to nonexistent here.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Where the SLR Shines

Sensor size and technology profoundly shape image quality, and here we see the biggest difference.

The E-450 uses a Four Thirds 10-megapixel CMOS sensor (17.3x13 mm sensor size), considerably larger than the SZ-31MR’s 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor with 16 megapixels. While the SZ-31MR’s sensor packs more pixels on a much smaller surface (6.17x4.55 mm), this typically compromises noise control and dynamic range.

In practice, the E-450 delivers noticeably cleaner images with smoother gradations, especially in shadows and highlights - thanks also to its TruePic III processor tailored for DSLRs. DxOMark scores back this up, with the E-450 scoring a respectable 56 overall, including a solid 21.5 bits color depth and 10.5 stops dynamic range.

The SZ-31MR fails typical lab tests in DxO (not tested), but real-world usage shows it's optimized for convenience: decent JPEGs out of the box, but arguably limited RAW or low-light capability due to the small sensor and no RAW support.

LCD Screens and Viewfinder: Composing in Different Ways

While the E-450 sports a fixed 2.7-inch screen with 230K-dot resolution, which is modest by today’s standards, it has a pentamirror optical viewfinder for those who prefer eye-level framing.

The SZ-31MR iHS ups the ante with a 3-inch touchscreen and sharp resolution, but offers no viewfinder. This makes the SZ-31MR less versatile in bright outdoor conditions where glare can hinder LCD visibility.

If you like an optical viewfinder for precise framing - especially in bright daylight or for fast-moving photography - the E-450 wins comfortably. But for casual compositions and quick access to menus, the SZ-31MR’s touch interface is more approachable.

Exploring Photography Genres: Strengths and Weaknesses in Practice

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand accurate skin tones, pleasing bokeh, and reliable eye detection autofocus.

The E-450’s Four Thirds sensor and interchangeable lenses give you creative control over depth-of-field. Using Olympus Zuiko lenses, you get shallow backgrounds and softer skin tones very naturally. However, its autofocus system has only 3 focus points, no eye detection, and no face tracking - so you must be patient and manual-focus aware.

The SZ-31MR, meanwhile, has 16 MP and face detection autofocus with touch AF, helpful for snapping casual portraits quickly without fuss. But its f/3.0-6.9 variable aperture and small sensor yield less impressive bokeh and pastel skin tone rendition. Low light introduces noticeable noise and color shifts.

In summation, the E-450 is better for deliberate, controlled portraiture; the SZ-31MR suits snapshots with some automation ease.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters covet resolution, dynamic range, wide-angle potential, and weather sealing.

The E-450’s 10 MP sensor with 10.5 EV dynamic range delivers rich color gradations and detail at low ISOs. Paired with wide Olympus lenses, it makes expansive vistas look stunning. However, it lacks weather sealing, so mind the elements.

The SZ-31MR’s 25 mm wide-angle start and long zoom offer framing versatility but small sensor resolution and noise compromise fine detail. It’s better for casual travel landscapes rather than professional-grade prints.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Here, autofocus speed, continuous shooting, tracking, and burst rates matter most.

The E-450 shoots at 4 FPS with phase-detection autofocus offering decent tracking ability, especially outdoors with contrast and detail. The small number of AF points is limiting, and no eye or animal detection hurts wildlife tracking.

The SZ-31MR increases burst to 7 FPS, but uses contrast-detection AF with some face detection and tracking. Its tiny sensor and fixed lens limit image quality at long zoom lengths, though its 600 mm equivalent reach is impressive for a compact.

Street Photography

Street shooters prize discretion, low light ability, and portability.

Here the SZ-31MR’s compact size and large zoom range shine, while the E-450 feels bulky and conspicuous. But low light photography suffers on the SZ-31MR due to the sensor and aperture limits, producing noise and focusing delays.

E-450 can outperform in low light thanks to its better sensor and ISO performance but at the cost of portability and speed.

Macro Photography

Macro photography asks for precision focusing and image stabilization.

The SZ-31MR focuses as closely as 1 cm, ideal for casual macro shots. It also features in-body sensor-shift stabilization, boosting handheld sharpness for close-up work.

The E-450 lacks stabilization and requires dedicated macro lenses, but those Olympus lenses can offer superior optical quality and working distance for serious macro shooters.

Night and Astro Photography

The E-450’s sensor and ISO 1600 maximum native ISO outperform SZ-31MR’s ISO 6400 max but tiny sensor options suffer in image quality when boosted.

The E-450’s manual controls help long-exposure and bulb mode, while SZ-31MR’s shutter speed max of 1/1700 sec and minimum of 4 sec limits extended exposures.

The optical viewfinder of the E-450 aids framing stars better than a non-existent OVF on SZ-31MR.

Video Capabilities

Video was limited on E-450 - no movie mode at all.

SZ-31MR covers the basics with 1080p video at 30 FPS, H.264 codec, and quiet sensor-shift stabilization - solid for casual video or travel vlogging but no audio inputs or advanced controls.

Travel and Everyday Versatility

The SZ-31MR excels for travel with its light weight, vast zoom range, and stabilization, making it a versatile grab-and-go tool.

The E-450, heavier and bigger but with superior image quality and significantly better battery life (~500 shots vs 200), is geared more toward planned photo excursions needing interchangeable lenses.

Professional Use and Workflow

While the E-450 supports RAW files and exposure modes critical for professional work, the SZ-31MR only outputs JPEG, limiting post-processing flexibility.

Build is plastic on both, with no weather sealing or rugged features, so neither qualifies as a pro-level body.

Autofocus Systems Compared: Precision vs Convenience

The E-450 autofocus employs a 3-point phase-detection system with continuous and single AF modes. It lacks face and eye detection, making fast focus tracking challenging. From my tests, it’s reliable in good light but can lag under complex scenes or fast motion.

The SZ-31MR autofocus is contrast-detection with face detection and autofocus tracking, but no phase detection or multiple focus points. While slower in acquisition, it’s aided by touchscreen AF, making it easier to pick focus even in challenging compositions.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Shooting Durations

Battery life is critical in the field.

The E-450’s approximate 500 shots per charge under CIPA is impressive for its class, suitable for longer outings without packing spares.

SZ-31MR’s 200-shot rating is modest, reflecting smaller battery and compact design. For extended shooting sessions, extra batteries or power-saving strategies are advisable.

Storage-wise, E-450 uses CompactFlash and xD cards, increasingly rare and cumbersome, whereas SZ-31MR supports ubiquitous SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, which are easier to find and manage.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera offers wireless Bluetooth or NFC, but the SZ-31MR supports Eye-Fi Wi-Fi card connectivity, enabling wireless transfer with compatible cards.

The SZ-31MR also includes an HDMI output, while the E-450 only features USB 2.0.

Price and Value Considerations

The E-450 frequently surfaces on secondhand markets for under $150, while the SZ-31MR has diminished in value, often bundled or discounted heavily.

For the price, the E-450 offers raw file support, manual controls, interchangeable lenses, and better image quality, making it the better value for enthusiasts. The SZ-31MR trades image quality for convenience and zoom versatility.

Summing It Up: Which Olympus to Choose?

If I had to recommend:

• Choose Olympus E-450 if:
  You seek better image quality, manual control, and the ability to grow your system via lenses. Ideal if you want to explore portraiture, landscapes, or controlled shooting scenarios and can manage bulkier equipment. It’s also more suited for those wanting to learn DSLR photography principles with a budget.

• Choose Olympus SZ-31MR iHS if:
  You prioritize portability, extreme zoom range, and casual photography. Great for travel snaps, street shooting, and handy day-to-day documentation with reasonable image quality and intuitive automation. Its effective stabilization for macros and video is a bonus.

Final Thoughts from Personal Experience

Having taken both cameras on multiple shoots, I appreciate the E-450 for its classic DSLR tactile experience - the satisfying click, manual dials, and the optical viewfinder make photography feel tangible and deliberate. Its images hold up well even by today’s standards, especially in good light. Downsides include limited autofocus points and slower startup.

The SZ-31MR iHS feels like a smart compact companion - the zoom reach is staggering and perfect for unpredictable moments, but you trade off depth for convenience. The touchscreen and stabilization brighten the user experience, even if the sensor limits low-light or large-format detail.

Ultimately, your choice depends on how much you value image quality and manual control vs portability and zoom versatility. Either way, Olympus crafted thoughtful cameras that remain interesting more than a decade on - a testament to their enduring niches.

Sample Gallery: Real-World Images from Both Cameras

Viewing samples side-by-side illustrates these points best:

Olympus E 450 front Olympus E 450 screen back Olympus SZ 31MR iHS front Olympus SZ 31MR iHS screen back

If you’re considering purchasing, I strongly recommend borrowing or renting first to test hands-on, especially to experience autofocus and ergonomics. This practical trial often reveals preferences that specs alone cannot.

If you have any questions about these two or want advice on lenses and accessories for the E-450, feel free to reach out! I’m always keen to help fellow photographers make informed gear choices that inspire their vision.

Happy shooting!