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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
25
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced February 2012
Panasonic LS5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 97 x 62 x 27mm
  • Released July 2011
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the LS5 (14MP) is pretty close and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced 7 months later than the LS5 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up vs the LS5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic LS5

 SZ-31MR iHS LS5 
ReleasedFebruary 2012July 2011More recent by 7 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LS5 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 LS5 SZ-31MR iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic LS5

 SZ-31MR iHS LS5 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS provides outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LS5 has proportions of 97mm x 62mm x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the LS5.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and LS5 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and LS5.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to render greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern SZ-31MR iHS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic LS5 Portrait photography advice
34
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography advice
Panasonic LS5 Street photography advice
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features focus by touch
lighter than others in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (126g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography info
Panasonic LS5 Sports photography info
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
32
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (160 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LS5 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than others in class (226g)
features focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
65
lighter than competitors in class (126 grams)
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery (160 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography info
Panasonic LS5 Landscape photography info
41
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery power (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
36
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery (160 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic LS5
35
really wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
32
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (126g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic LS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic LS5
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-LS5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-08 2011-07-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V -
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 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.30 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 126 gr (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 62 x 27mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 shots 160 shots
Battery style Battery Pack AA
Battery model LI-50B 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $294