Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP2

Here is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FP2, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the FP2 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-31MR iHS was released 2 years later than the FP2 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades versus the FP2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Gallery & Panasonic FP2 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FP2 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FP2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the FP2.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and FP2 is 89 and 95 respectively.

More often than not, its difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The visual here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and FP2.

Plainly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to show extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more modern SZ-31MR iHS is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.