Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ300

Lets look more closely at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FZ300, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and FZ300 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was unveiled 4 years earlier than the FZ300 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the FZ300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Gallery and Panasonic FZ300 Gallery.

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ300 has proportions of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") having a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FZ300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the FZ300.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and FZ300 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and FZ300.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to give you extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS is going to be behind in sensor technology.