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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Olympus SZ-15 front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Key Specs

Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 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 SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus SZ-15 versus Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the SZ-15 (16MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-15 was manufactured 17 months after the SZ-31MR iHS which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-15 matches up against the SZ-31MR iHS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 SZ-15 SZ-31MR iHS 
ReleasedJune 2013February 2012Newer by 17 months
Manual focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus SZ-15

 SZ-31MR iHS SZ-15 
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 SZ-15 SZ-31MR iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-15 features physical dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-15 versus Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-15 versus the SZ-31MR iHS.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-15 and SZ-31MR iHS is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The pic here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-15 and SZ-31MR iHS.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same MP so you can expect similar quality of files however you would want to take the age of the products into consideration. The more modern SZ-15 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography details
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
44
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
34
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (250g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports focus via touch
lighter than competition (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
53
long zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-15
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
68
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition (226 grams)
supports focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography highlights
49
focusing manually
rather wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-15
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
34
rather wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (250 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-15 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-15 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Olympus SZ-15Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-15 Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-06-21 2012-02-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Dual TruePic V
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-483mm (21.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech LCD Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 9.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250 gr (0.55 lb) 226 gr (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $200 $0