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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
42
Overall
38

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS 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
  • Announced February 2012
Olympus TG-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 111 x 67 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2013
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-2 iHS, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and TG-2 iHS (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was announced 16 months prior to the TG-2 iHS which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades versus the TG-2 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus TG-2 iHS

 SZ-31MR iHS TG-2 iHS 
Screen resolution920k610kClearer screen (+310k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-2 iHS over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 TG-2 iHS SZ-31MR iHS 
LaunchedJune 2013February 2012More recent by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-2 iHS

 SZ-31MR iHS TG-2 iHS 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Olympus TG-2 iHS has measurements of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-2 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the TG-2 iHS.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and TG-2 iHS is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The visual below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and TG-2 iHS.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to deliver more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography information
Olympus TG-2 iHS Portrait photography information
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography info
Olympus TG-2 iHS Street photography info
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes touch to focus
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Sports photography features
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery power (350 shots)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
includes touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
great battery power (350 shots)
weather sealing
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Landscape photography features
41
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
46
pretty wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
great battery power (350 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging features
Olympus TG-2 iHS Vlogging features
35
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
36
pretty wide (25mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no external mic port
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus TG-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus TG-2 iHS
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSOlympus Tough TG-2 iHS
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2012-02-08 2013-06-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
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) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 610 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 230 gr (0.51 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 67 x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" 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 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 and 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $0 $380