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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released August 2014
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL7
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-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) is pretty close but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL6 was released 2 years after the SZ-31MR iHS which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL6 grades versus the SZ-31MR iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-PL6 SZ-31MR iHS 
LaunchedAugust 2014February 2012More modern by 31 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus E-PL6

 SZ-31MR iHS E-PL6 
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-PL6 SZ-31MR iHS 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL6 has external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL6 and the SZ-31MR iHS.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and SZ-31MR iHS is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing specifications. The pic below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL6 and SZ-31MR iHS.

To sum up, both of the cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL6 has the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The newer E-PL6 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL6
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography information
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes focus by touch
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL6
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
85
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
67
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography advice
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
41
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
79
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external mic jack
35
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-08-01 2012-02-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Dual TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 9.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 360 photographs 200 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $300 $0