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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 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 FH27
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 152g - 99 x 57 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the FH27 (16MP) is pretty similar and both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was manufactured 14 months later than the FH27 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores against the FH27 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic FH27

 SZ-31MR iHS FH27 
LaunchedFebruary 2012January 2011More recent by 14 months
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH27 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 FH27 SZ-31MR iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FH27

 SZ-31MR iHS FH27 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH27 has specifications of 99mm x 57mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 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 change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the FH27.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and FH27 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reviewing technical specs. The photograph underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-31MR iHS and FH27.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of images however you might want to factor the production date of the products into consideration. The more recent SZ-31MR iHS will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH27 Portrait photography features
34
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
34
decent MP (16MP)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH27 Street photography highlights
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has touch to focus
lighter than others (226 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH27 as a Sports photography camera
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH27 Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than others (226 grams)
has touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (200 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
boasts focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH27 as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery pack (200 shots)
no Timelapse mode
43
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging information
Panasonic FH27 Vlogging information
35
decently wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
32
really wide (28mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FH27 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FH27
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH27
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-08 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V Venus Engine VI
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.30 m 5.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 152 gr (0.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 99 x 57 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 250 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $0 $229