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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax Efina front
Portability
97
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina 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
Pentax Efina
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 91g - 87 x 54 x 21mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Pentax Efina, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the Efina (14MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was launched 16 months before the Efina which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax Efina being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades versus the Efina with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax Efina

 SZ-31MR iHS Efina 
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Efina over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 Efina SZ-31MR iHS 
IntroducedJune 2013February 2012More modern by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Efina

 SZ-31MR iHS Efina 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS provides outside dimensions 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 Pentax Efina has measurements of 87mm x 54mm x 21mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.8") having a weight of 91 grams (0.20 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Pentax Efina in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the Efina.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and Efina is 89 and 97 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The picture below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and Efina.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
Pentax Efina Portrait photography details
34
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
34
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
Pentax Efina as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
64
has image stabilization (Digital)
lighter than competitors (91 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography details
Pentax Efina Sports photography details
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
35
has image stabilization (Digital)
decent megapixels (14MP)
low max shutter speed (1/1,400s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
Pentax Efina Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
has focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competitors (91 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography factors
Pentax Efina Landscape photography factors
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery pack (200 shots)
no Timelapse mode
38
pretty wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5")
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging highlights
Pentax Efina Vlogging highlights
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
33
pretty wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (91 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Efina Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Efina
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax Efina
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax Efina
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2012-02-08 2013-06-03
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focus range 1cm 20cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD QVGA TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 1/8s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1400s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m 4.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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, 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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 lbs) 91g (0.20 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 87 x 54 x 21mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 200 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $0 $10