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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

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

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 II
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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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was released 21 months later than the SZ-31MR iHS which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-M1 scores vs the SZ-31MR iHS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M1 SZ-31MR iHS 
LaunchedOctober 2013February 2012Fresher by 21 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)

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

 SZ-31MR iHS E-M1 

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

 E-M1 SZ-31MR iHS 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 provides exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 vs 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 vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 vs the SZ-31MR iHS.

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

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and SZ-31MR iHS is 71 and 89 respectively.

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

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

More often than not, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over specifications. The graphic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and SZ-31MR iHS.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-M1 has the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The newer E-M1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
71
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography highlights
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than average (497g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with touch focus
lighter than others (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography features
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography factors
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography factors
65
lighter than average (497 grams)
environment proofing
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
67
lighter than others (226g)
comes with touch focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
41
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic socket
lighter than average (497g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
35
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-28 2012-02-08
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Dual TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1700s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 9.30 m
Flash options Flash Auto, 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 200 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $0