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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II front
Portability
81
Imaging
58
Features
75
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II 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
Panasonic LX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 17MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 392g - 115 x 66 x 64mm
  • Announced August 2018
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX100
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic LX100 II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the LX100 II (17MP) is relatively comparable but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and LX100 II (Four Thirds) use different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was released 7 years earlier than the LX100 II and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the LX100 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic LX100 II

 SZ-31MR iHS LX100 II 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 II over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 LX100 II SZ-31MR iHS 
AnnouncedAugust 2018February 2012Fresher by 79 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution1240k920kCrisper screen (+320k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic LX100 II

 SZ-31MR iHS LX100 II 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic LX100 II has dimensions of 115mm x 66mm x 64mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.5") with a weight of 392 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic LX100 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the LX100 II.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and LX100 II is 89 and 81 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The visual underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and LX100 II.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-31MR iHS due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic LX100 II will show extra detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography features
Panasonic LX100 II Portrait photography features
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (17MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LX100 II as a Street photography camera
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features focus by touch
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
77
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography info
Panasonic LX100 II Sports photography info
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
71
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (17 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
great battery (340 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography advice
Panasonic LX100 II Travel photography advice
67
lighter than competition (226 grams)
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
78
great battery (340 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (17MP)
pretty wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.7)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic LX100 II
41
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
76
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.7)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (17MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (340 CIPA)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging advice
Panasonic LX100 II Vlogging advice
35
rather wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
37
pretty wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.7)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic LX100 II
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-02-08 2018-08-22
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 17 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4736 x 3552
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 49
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-75mm (3.1x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.7-2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 1,240 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,760 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 1800s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) DMW-BLE9 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 392g (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 115 x 66 x 64mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.5")
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 340 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots One One
Launch cost $0 $998