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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 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 FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic FZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very well matched and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was brought out 19 months later than the FZ40 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the FZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic FZ40

 SZ-31MR iHS FZ40 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012July 2010More recent by 19 months
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 FZ40 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FZ40

 SZ-31MR iHS FZ40 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS offers outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ40 has sizing of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic FZ40 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the FZ40.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and FZ40 is 89 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and FZ40.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to give you greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer SZ-31MR iHS will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography highlights
34
good MP (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography info
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than others (494g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography features
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography factors
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography factors
67
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
supports touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery life (200 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
54
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (494 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography features
Panasonic FZ40 Landscape photography features
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery life (200 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
51
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ40
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
23
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
heavier than others (494 grams)
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-02-08 2010-07-21
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V Venus Engine HD II
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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 494g (1.09 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
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 -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $420