Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S5

The following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic S5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and S5 (24MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and S5 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was brought out 9 years earlier than the S5 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores versus the S5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS & Panasonic Lumix DC-S5. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Gallery & Panasonic S5 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys 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) while the Panasonic S5 has specifications of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic S5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS and the S5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and S5 is 89 and 60 respectively.

Quite often, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and S5.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-31MR iHS featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic S5 will render extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.