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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Revealed February 2012
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is fairly close and both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was released very close to the S2 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades versus the S2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic S2

 SZ-31MR iHS S2 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 S2 SZ-31MR iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic S2

 SZ-31MR iHS S2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012January 2012Same age
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS offers exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S2 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the S2.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and S2 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The image below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and S2.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography information
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography information
34
decent MP (16MP)
includes face detect focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
34
good resolution (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography details
Panasonic S2 Street photography details
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports touch to focus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography features
Panasonic S2 Sports photography features
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
better than average battery power (280 shots)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic S2
67
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
supports touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (200 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
better than average battery power (280 shots)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic S2
41
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
41
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
better than average battery power (280 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
35
really wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
33
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition (112g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic S2
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-02-08 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.30 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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 lb) 112 gr (0.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 images 280 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $0 $109