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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Introduced February 2012
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-870, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was revealed 4 years before the TG-870 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the TG-870 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus TG-870

 SZ-31MR iHS TG-870 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 TG-870 SZ-31MR iHS 
LaunchedJanuary 2016February 2012More modern by 47 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-870

 SZ-31MR iHS TG-870 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-870 has sizing of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-870 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the TG-870.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and TG-870 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and TG-870.

As you can see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact resolution therefore you should expect comparable quality of images although you will need to take the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
34
resolution is good (16MP)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography information
Olympus TG-870 Street photography information
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than others in class (221 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Sports photography camera
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (300 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
comes with touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
better than average battery life (300 CIPA)
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (21mm)
more heavy than others in class (221g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography highlights
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
50
reasonably wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
environment proofing
better than average battery life (300 CIPA)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Olympus TG-870
35
decently wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
32
reasonably wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (221 grams)
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSOlympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-02-08 2016-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TruePic V TruePic VII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom 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 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), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 221 grams (0.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 300 pictures
Form 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 shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $0 $280