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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
Portability
82
Imaging
61
Features
80
Overall
68

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 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
Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Released February 2018
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic GX9, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the GX9 (20MP) is fairly close but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and GX9 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was unveiled 7 years before the GX9 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the GX9 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic GX9

 SZ-31MR iHS GX9 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 GX9 SZ-31MR iHS 
ReleasedFebruary 2018February 2012Fresher by 73 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1240k920kSharper display (+320k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic GX9

 SZ-31MR iHS GX9 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic GX9 has measurements of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") with a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic GX9 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the GX9.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and GX9 is 89 and 82 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by researching technical specs. The visual below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and GX9.

As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-31MR iHS having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic GX9 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography details
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
76
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GX9 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than others in class (226g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic GX9
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
73
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography details
Panasonic GX9 Travel photography details
67
lighter than others in class (226g)
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
connects via bluetooth
supports touch to focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (260 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX9 as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
terrible battery pack (260 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic GX9
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic GX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic GX9
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DC-GX9
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2012-02-08 2018-02-13
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 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 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 1,240 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,760 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 407 gr (0.90 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9")
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 260 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $1,000