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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Announced February 2020
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 III was announced 8 years after the SZ-31MR iHS which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-M1 III matches up vs the SZ-31MR iHS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-M1 III SZ-31MR iHS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2020February 2012More modern by 98 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k920kSharper display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus E-M1 III

 SZ-31MR iHS E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-M1 III SZ-31MR iHS 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 III provides external measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 III against the SZ-31MR iHS.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and SZ-31MR iHS is 67 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The image below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and SZ-31MR iHS.

All in all, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 III with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 III will render more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The newer E-M1 III provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography details
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
34
good megapixels (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography info
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography info
78
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (25,600)
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
79
weather proof
has bluetooth
features focus by touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
offers touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography details
81
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
41
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging factors
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
35
fairly wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIOlympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2020-02-11 2012-02-08
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic IX Dual TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 -
Cross focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1700 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 9.30 m
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 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 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580g (1.28 lbs) 226g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 shots 200 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 Single
Retail price $1,800 $0