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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II 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
  • Announced February 2012
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-3
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-3 II and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores against the K-3 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax K-3 II

 SZ-31MR iHS K-3 II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 K-3 II SZ-31MR iHS 
RevealedApril 2015February 2012Fresher by 39 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax K-3 II

 SZ-31MR iHS K-3 II 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS offers outside measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS and the K-3 II.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and K-3 II is 89 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by researching a spec sheet. The visual below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and K-3 II.

Clearly, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SZ-31MR iHS with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 II will render more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography information
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography information
34
good megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Street photography with Pentax K-3 II
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus via touch
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography highlights
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
low battery pack (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography details
67
lighter than others in class (226g)
provides focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
56
environment proof
good megapixels (24MP)
low battery pack (720 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
41
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
low battery pack (720 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Vlogging camera
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax K-3 II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-02-08 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V Prime III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 800 gr (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 200 images 720 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single 2
Retail cost $0 $829