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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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
  • Released February 2012
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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus SH-50 versus Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was revealed 12 months after the SZ-31MR iHS which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SH-50 grades vs the SZ-31MR iHS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 SH-50 SZ-31MR iHS 
ReleasedJanuary 2013February 2012Newer by 12 months
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus SH-50

 SZ-31MR iHS SH-50 
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 SH-50 SZ-31MR iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-50 features exterior measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-50 versus Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SH-50 compared to the SZ-31MR iHS.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SH-50 and SZ-31MR iHS is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-50 and SZ-31MR iHS.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of files although you might want to take the age of the cameras into account. The younger SH-50 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
34
good megapixels (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography factors
64
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (269g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than competition (226g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography info
48
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition in class (269g)
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
lighter than competition (226g)
boasts focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
49
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse function
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging features
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging features
34
rather wide (25mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (269g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone support
35
relatively wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus SH-50 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Olympus SH-50Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus SH-50 Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-08 2012-02-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI 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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 9.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 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 format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lbs) 226g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 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 - 200 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $300 $0