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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 FP3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic FP3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the FP3 (14MP) is very comparable and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was unveiled 2 years after the FP3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up vs the FP3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic FP3

 SZ-31MR iHS FP3 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2010More modern by 26 months
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP3 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 FP3 SZ-31MR iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FP3

 SZ-31MR iHS FP3 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has got external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FP3 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic FP3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the FP3.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and FP3 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and FP3.

As you can see, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to provide extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern SZ-31MR iHS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FP3 Portrait photography highlights
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Street photography with Panasonic FP3
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography advice
Panasonic FP3 Sports photography advice
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography advice
Panasonic FP3 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than average in class (226g)
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
60
comes with touch to focus
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (155g)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography features
Panasonic FP3 Landscape photography features
41
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FP3 as a Vlogging camera
35
fairly wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
27
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
heavier than others (155g)
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FP3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FP3
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-02-08 2010-01-06
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V Venus Engine IV
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.30 m 4.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 155 gr (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Form of battery 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
Cost at release $0 $182