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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
42
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

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
Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Successor is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Olympus TG-860, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both designed by Olympus. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced 4 years before the TG-860 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the TG-860 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus TG-860

 SZ-31MR iHS TG-860 
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 TG-860 SZ-31MR iHS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015February 2012More modern by 36 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-860

 SZ-31MR iHS TG-860 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-860 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Olympus TG-860 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the TG-860.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and TG-860 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specs. The picture below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-31MR iHS and TG-860.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same MP therefore you can expect similar quality of photos but you should really factor the age of the products into consideration. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography info
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography info
34
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
36
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-860 Street photography highlights
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than average (226g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography factors
Olympus TG-860 Sports photography factors
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
49
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography details
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography details
67
lighter than average (226 grams)
comes with touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
environment sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (21mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-860 as a Landscape photography camera
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
48
reasonably wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging features
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging features
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external mic port
33
reasonably wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSOlympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2012-02-08 2015-02-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V TruePic VII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Yes
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 224 grams (0.49 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 300 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $0 $279