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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S Key Specs

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Announced January 2018
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and GH5S (10MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and GH5S (Four Thirds) have different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced 7 years prior to the GH5S and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the GH5S with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic GH5S

 SZ-31MR iHS GH5S 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 GH5S SZ-31MR iHS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2018February 2012More recent by 72 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k920kCrisper screen (+700k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic GH5S

 SZ-31MR iHS GH5S 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS provides physical measurements 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 Panasonic GH5S has dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the GH5S.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and GH5S is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and GH5S.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-31MR iHS using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will offer greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Portrait photography with Panasonic GH5S
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
62
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Street photography with Panasonic GH5S
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports touch focus
lighter than competition (226g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
68
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic GH5S
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
56
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH5S as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competition (226 grams)
supports touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (200 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
61
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
features touch to focus
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography information
Panasonic GH5S Landscape photography information
41
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery (200 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
63
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging features
Panasonic GH5S Vlogging features
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
68
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone port
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GH5S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic GH5S
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-02-08 2018-01-08
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TruePic V Venus Engine 10
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3680 x 2760
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 225
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Total lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 1,620 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.76x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 660 gr (1.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
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 images 440 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported)
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail pricing $0 $2,498