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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Olympus VG-120 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 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 VG-120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the VG-120 (14MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-31MR iHS was brought out 14 months after the VG-120 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Olympus VG-120 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades against the VG-120 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus VG-120

 SZ-31MR iHS VG-120 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2011Newer by 14 months
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-120 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 VG-120 SZ-31MR iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus VG-120

 SZ-31MR iHS VG-120 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Olympus VG-120 has proportions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the VG-120.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and VG-120 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The pic here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and VG-120.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to show more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger SZ-31MR iHS is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Portrait photography with Olympus VG-120
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography details
Olympus VG-120 Street photography details
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus via touch
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
48
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography info
Olympus VG-120 Sports photography info
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (160 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than average in class (226g)
offers focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
62
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (160 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-120 as a Landscape photography camera
41
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery pack (160 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging features
Olympus VG-120 Vlogging features
35
pretty wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic port
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
offers face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Olympus VG-120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Olympus VG-120
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSOlympus VG-120
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Olympus VG-120
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-02-08 2011-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V TruePic III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
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 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
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 mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 7cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 120g (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 photos 160 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $0 $190