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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Released February 2012
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Here is a extensive assessment of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax K-7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and K-7 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was unveiled 2 years later than the K-7 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up against the K-7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax K-7

 SZ-31MR iHS K-7 
LaunchedFebruary 2012October 2009Fresher by 29 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 K-7 SZ-31MR iHS 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax K-7

 SZ-31MR iHS K-7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS features outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax K-7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the K-7.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and K-7 is 89 and 60 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by going over technical specs. The photograph below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and K-7.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-31MR iHS using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will offer extra detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent SZ-31MR iHS should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography factors
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Street photography highlights
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers touch to focus
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography features
Pentax K-7 Sports photography features
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography advice
Pentax K-7 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
offers touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (200 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
64
weather proofing
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Pentax K-7
35
decently wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external mic port
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax K-7
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax K-7
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax K-7
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-02-08 2009-10-02
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V Prime II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 6400 2000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 750 gr (1.65 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 536
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 980 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI90
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/MMC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $599