Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85: A Complete, Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

In a landscape crowded with cameras aiming to serve every type of photographer, standing apart requires more than specs on paper – it demands real-world performance that caters to distinct shooting priorities and styles. Today, we take an in-depth look at two fundamentally different cameras: the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, a compact small sensor superzoom aimed at travel and casual shooters, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85, a sophisticated Micro Four Thirds mirrorless offering designed for enthusiast and pro-level versatility.

With over 15 years of extensive testing and reviewing hundreds of cameras across the photographic spectrum, I approach this comparison with a wealth of firsthand experience. My goal is to illuminate how these cameras stack up across multiple photography disciplines, use cases, and technical parameters – providing a clear-eyed, expert perspective to help you make an informed choice.

Body and Ergonomics: Compact Versus Rangefinder-Inspired Precision

At a glance, the Olympus SZ-31MR is a quintessential compact superzoom, measuring approximately 106 x 69 x 40 mm and weighing a featherlight 226 grams. Its diminutive footprint makes it an excellent companion for everyday carry or travel where pocketability and simplicity are paramount. This camera features a fixed lens with a huge 24x optical zoom range – a rarity in such small packages – while the body itself has intentionally minimal manual controls aimed at point-and-shoot use.

In contrast, the Panasonic GX85 is a more substantial mirrorless system camera at 122 x 71 x 44 mm, weighing nearly double at 426 grams (without lens). Its rangefinder-style body is crafted with enthusiast shooters in mind, incorporating a thoughtfully laid-out control scheme with physical dials and buttons designed for quick manual adjustments and creative flexibility.

The Panasonic’s ergonomics benefit from extensive direct controls, including shutter speed and exposure compensation dials, while the Olympus relies largely on touchscreen input with fewer tactile buttons. For photographers who value tactile feedback and rapid parameter changes - such as those shooting dynamic subjects or in manual mode - the GX85 shines. Meanwhile, the SZ-31MR’s simpler layout lowers the entry barrier for novices or casual users prioritizing ease over complexity.

Verdict: The Olympus offers unparalleled portability and simplicity, perfect for travelers and beginners. The Panasonic's superior ergonomics reward experienced photographers seeking manual control and responsiveness.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensor Limitations Against Larger Micro Four Thirds Power

Sensor size is arguably the single most influential factor in image quality. The SZ-31MR employs a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm, approx. 28 mm²), common in compact zoom cameras, with a 16-megapixel resolution offering a maximum native ISO of 6400. By contrast, the GX85 features a significantly larger Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm (~225 mm²) with the same 16MP resolution but with vastly improved light-gathering capabilities.

The implications of this difference ripple across dynamic range, noise performance, detail rendering, and color fidelity. The Panasonic’s sensor benefits from no anti-aliasing filter, enhancing sharpness and resolving power. It achieves an impressive DxOMark score of 71 overall, including top-tier color depth (22.9 bits) and dynamic range (~12.6 EV), making it highly capable in challenging lighting situations.

Conversely, the SZ-31MR’s smaller sensor inherently restricts dynamic range and noise control, making it less forgiving in high contrast or low-light environments. While its BSI design aids light sensitivity slightly, noise rapidly becomes evident above ISO 800, and highlight recovery is limited.

Image Quality Insight: The Panasonic’s sensor offers a professional-grade base that suits genres demanding high resolution and subtle tonal gradations such as landscapes and portraits. The Olympus, while versatile optically thanks to its massive zoom range, primarily supports casual use and web sharing rather than large prints or pixel-peeping.

Viewfinder and LCD: Eye-Level Precision Versus Reliance on Screen

An important consideration for many photographers lies in the viewing experience. The Olympus SZ-31MR lacks any viewfinder, relying exclusively on its fixed 3-inch touchscreen LCD with a 920k-dot resolution using Hypercrystal III TFT technology. It supports live view with touch focusing, but the small screen size limits composition finesse, especially in bright outdoor conditions.

The Panasonic GX85, meanwhile, equips a high-resolution 2.76M-dot electronic viewfinder covering 100% of the frame, ideal for precise composition and shooting in bright sunlight. Complementing this, its 3-inch 1.04M-dot tilting touchscreen facilitates intuitive touch autofocus and flexible framing, including low- and high-angle perspectives.

From prolonged handheld shooting to rapid subject acquisition in bright environments, the GX85’s viewfinder significantly enhances content creation, reducing eye strain and improving accuracy. The Olympus screen serves well for casual framing but does not support the same level of compositional control or user interface sophistication.

Autofocus System: Basic Contrast Detection Meets Advanced Hybrid Autofocus

In fast-moving situations - wildlife, sport, or street photography - the autofocus system’s speed, accuracy, and tracking efficacy make or break the experience. The SZ-31MR uses a contrast detection AF system augmented by face detection, touch AF, and limited AF tracking, but no phase-detection or hybrid AF. It does not support continuous autofocus or eye/animal detection features, relying mostly on single AF and simple area detection.

The Panasonic GX85, while also solely using a contrast-detection system, enhances performance through a depth-from-defocus technology and on-chip processing, delivering snappier autofocus speeds and better tracking of moving subjects. It boasts 49 focus points, selective and multi-area AF modes, continuous AF with tracking, and both face and eye detection for humans - a boon for portrait and event photographers.

In practical testing, the GX85 reliably locks focus even under moderate low-light conditions and maintains steady tracking of subjects in motion, albeit not at flagship speed levels common in full-frame mirrorless rivals. The Olympus, conversely, exhibits slower focus acquisition and less consistent tracking, particularly beyond the center areas.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility: Fixed Superzoom Versus Micro Four Thirds Flexibility

One of the core distinctions lies in lens compatibility and system extensibility. The Olympus SZ-31MR is an all-in-one fixed lens camera, featuring a massive 25-600mm equivalent zoom range with an aperture varying from f/3.0 to f/6.9. This lens is commendably versatile for travel or casual use, covering wide-angle to extreme telephoto, but it cannot be swapped or upgraded.

The Panasonic GX85 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, which grants access to a broad, mature ecosystem exceeding 100 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third-party manufacturers. This includes high-quality primes, fast zooms, specialty optics for macro or tilt-shift effects, and professional-grade telephoto lenses feasible for wildlife and sports.

This flexibility empowers photographers to tailor the system to any photography genre or style. For instance, pairing the GX85 with a fast 25mm f/1.7 prime excels at low-light portraits and street shooting, while Telephoto zooms like the Panasonic 100-300mm f/4-5.6 deliver reach for distant subjects. The Olympus, with its single zoom, is less adaptable but excels in simplicity and convenience.

Stabilization and Shutter Performance: Sensor-Shift vs Metered Mechanisms

Both cameras include image stabilization, but there are notable differences. The SZ-31MR employs sensor-shift stabilization integrated with the fixed lens, effective for handheld telephoto shooting and alleviating blur from camera shake. Its maximum shutter speed is 1/1700s with no electronic or silent shutter options.

The GX85 offers a sophisticated 5-axis sensor-based stabilization system, one of the more effective implementations in its class, offsetting motion across yaw, pitch, roll, and X/Y shifts. This provides an advantage in macro, video, and telephoto shooting, especially in low-light conditions where shutter speeds slow down. The GX85 also includes mechanical shutter speeds ranging from 60s to 1/4000s, alongside a silent electronic shutter capable of 1/16000s, enabling discretion in sensitive environments or shooting fast action.

Video Capabilities: Full HD versus 4K UHD with Advanced Features

Video is a decisive factor for many buyers today. The Olympus SZ-31MR supports Full HD 1080p recording at 30fps using MPEG-4 and H.264 formats, satisfactory for casual video but missing advanced controls like variable frame rates, slow-motion, or high bitrate profiles. It lacks a microphone input, limiting audio quality choices.

The Panasonic GX85 is a marked step up, offering 4K UHD recording at 30p and 24p alongside Full HD up to 60fps in MP4 or AVCHD, catering well to hybrid shooters. It features Panasonic’s renowned 4K photo mode, enabling still extraction from 4K video streams for fast action sequences. In-body 5-axis stabilization smooths handheld footage, significantly reducing jitters without external gimbals.

Audio inputs are limited (no microphone jack), but overall video functionality suits vloggers, event shooters, and semi-pro content creators looking for high-quality video without bulk.

Battery Life and Storage: Operational Efficiency

Battery life is a consideration for day-long shoots or travel. The Olympus SZ-31MR’s battery (LI-50B) offers around 200 shots per charge, reflective of compact camera limitations. Users should carry spares for extensive shooting days.

The Panasonic GX85 uses a larger battery with an improved 290-shot rating per the CIPA standard, better matching mirrorless demands, though still short of DSLR endurance. Both cameras employ single SD card slots compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, with the GX85’s support for higher-speed UHS-I cards providing some performance benefits.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Practical Robustness

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or ruggedization. Both lack dustproofing, freezeproofing, and water resistance, requiring care in adverse weather. The Panasonic’s larger, more robust body may provide a bit more confidence in handling, but neither is designed for harsh professional outdoor conditions.

Pricing and Value: Budget Portability Versus Investment in Versatility

At launch, the Olympus SZ-31MR was positioned as an affordable compact with superzoom capabilities, catering to casual users prioritizing convenience over technical prowess. Pricing today hovers low, making it accessible for budget buyers.

The Panasonic GX85, priced around $799 (body only) at release, targets a different demographic - enthusiasts and professionals seeking a powerful, flexible, and compact mirrorless system, justifying its mid-tier investment by delivering extensive feature depth and performance.

Applying Real-World Use Case Lenses: Who Should Choose Which?

Portrait Photography

The Panasonic GX85 excels with its larger sensor, superior autofocus with eye detection, and lens options offering wide apertures that produce creamy bokeh and accurate skin tones. Its ability to shoot in RAW enhances skin tone adjustment in post-processing. The Olympus, limited by sensor size and fixed lens speed, provides usable portraits in good light but falls short in artistic control and noise management.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution make the Panasonic a clear winner here, combined with manual exposure modes and an articulated screen for composing in challenging angles. The Olympus’s lower dynamic range and smaller sensor constrain highlight and shadow detail retention, reducing its suitability for serious landscape work.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Telephoto reach favors the Olympus’s 600mm equivalent zoom for static or slow wildlife photography, though autofocus limitations and slower continuous shooting (7 fps) cap its utility. The GX85, lacking native super-telephoto reach without added lenses, compensates with faster 8fps shooting, superior AF tracking, and the option to buy professional-grade zooms.

Street Photography

The Panasonic GX85’s discreet rangefinder silhouette, silent electronic shutter, responsive autofocus, and tilting screen suit candid street work. The Olympus can be conspicuous and less responsive, especially in low light.

Macro Photography

The GX85 benefits from more precise manual focusing, focus stacking, and access to dedicated macro lenses with good working distances. The SZ-31MR has a close focusing distance of 1 cm but lacks stabilization quality and flexibility.

Night and Astrophotography

Larger sensor performance and high ISO capability make the GX85 vastly superior for low-light and astrophotography, with long exposure support and tilting screen aiding composition. Olympus’s noise at high ISO and limited shutter options constrain night scene quality.

Video

The GX85 delivers professional-grade 4K, in-body stabilization, and creative video profiles surpassing the SZ-31MR's Full HD offerings, accommodating serious videographers.

Travel Photography

For travelers valuing one-camera convenience with enormous zoom reach, the Olympus is attractive for daylight travel snapshots and distant subjects. Those carrying multiple lenses and prioritizing image quality will prefer the Panasonic.

Professional Work

The GX85’s RAW support, advanced AF, manual modes, and extensible lens options make it a more viable professional tool, albeit not a flagship model. The Olympus is unsuited for demanding commercial workflows.

Olympus SZ 31MR iHS front Olympus SZ 31MR iHS screen back Panasonic GX85 front Panasonic GX85 screen back

Conclusions and Recommendations Based on Expertise

• The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS is a great choice for beginners or casual shooters who prioritize portability, ease of use, and extreme zoom range in a single, pocketable package. It is especially suitable for travel or family snapshots under good lighting conditions. However, expect compromises in image quality, focus speed, and creative control.

• The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 stands out for enthusiasts and semi-professionals who demand high image quality, versatile lens options, strong low-light performance, and advanced video capabilities. It suits diverse genres, from landscape to portrait to street photography, offering a balance of portability and professional-grade features.

Technical Summary Table

Final Thoughts

Choosing between the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and the Panasonic GX85 fundamentally boils down to priorities: unmatched compactness and superzoom convenience versus versatile, high-quality imaging that supports serious creative control. The SZ-31MR is a uniquely accessible tool for casual snapshots and distant reach, while the GX85 offers substantial capability extending to pro-level workflows and artistic freedom.

As a seasoned reviewer, I advise potential buyers to consider their intended photography styles, commitment level, and budget carefully. If your aspiration stretches beyond casual shooting toward professional or enthusiast ambitions, the Panasonic Lumix GX85 represents a sound investment with progressive features. If travel light, shoot simply, and capture faraway moments rank highest, the Olympus SZ-31MR remains a compelling candidate.

This detailed, experience-driven comparison aims to empower your buying decision by presenting transparent, comprehensive insights. If you have questions specific to your workflow or genre, I welcome engagement - tailored advice sharpens photographic mastery.

Happy shooting!