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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 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
  • Released February 2012
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic ZR3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is very similar and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was announced 2 years later than the ZR3 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades vs the ZR3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Panasonic ZR3

 SZ-31MR iHS ZR3 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2010More recent by 25 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 ZR3 SZ-31MR iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic ZR3

 SZ-31MR iHS ZR3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS features external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR3 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Panasonic ZR3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the ZR3.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and ZR3 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The photograph here should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-31MR iHS and ZR3.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to offer extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The newer SZ-31MR iHS will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography info
34
MP count good (16MP)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Street photography info
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR3
44
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR3
67
lighter than competition in class (226g)
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
64
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR3
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
37
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging advice
35
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external mic support
29
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-02-08 2010-01-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 159 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 form Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $0 $280