Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax K-r: An Expert’s Hands-On Comparison

When evaluating cameras, I always reach for gear I’ve spent hours testing under a wide range of shooting conditions. Today, I’m diving into a comparison between two very different offerings: the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, a compact superzoom aimed at casual travelers and enthusiasts craving versatility in a pocketable body; and the Pentax K-r, an entry-level DSLR that appeals to photography hobbyists wanting expanded creative control and superior image quality at an affordable price point.

At first glance, they could not be more different, yet both embody the spirit of accessible photography in their own ways. That contrast makes for an intriguing head-to-head review - how do the compact superzoom convenience and DSLR precision stack up? I’ve put both through my standard assessments across major photography genres, spanning portrait to wildlife, landscapes to macro, and more. Plus, I’ll weave in technical insights peppered with personal experience from over 15 years of camera testing.

Let’s unpack what each camera offers, where they excel, and which one deserves a spot in your bag.

Handling and Ergonomics: Size Matters But So Does Feel

One of the most immediate - and often overlooked - factors in camera choice is the physical interaction. Cameras you hesitate to pick up won’t inspire creativity, while ones that fit like a glove help you chase decisive moments.

The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS weighs in at a mere 226 grams and fits comfortably in your palm or even a large pocket. Its compact footprint (106x69x40 mm) makes it a superb travel companion, especially for casual shooters who want grand zoom ranges without lugging heavier kit. The fixed lens eliminates changeover fuss but also restricts experimentation.

On the other hand, the Pentax K-r, tipping the scales at 598 grams and measuring 125x97x68 mm, feels substantial but not unwieldy. It’s a compact SLR, so you get a deep, textured grip, logically placed buttons, and a solid build that encourages shooting for longer sessions without fatigue. The K-r’s size is a trade-off - more bulk but much better handling that accommodates enthusiasts who want serious control.

Top view layouts further illustrate this divergence:

Olympus keeps it simple with minimal buttons and a mode dial focused on point-and-shoot ease. Pentax boasts dedicated dials for exposure modes (including shutter and aperture priority), ISO, and shooting modes, offering quick manual adjustments - something I'll revisit when discussing operational speed in sports and wildlife use.

If you prize lightweight gear that’s unobtrusive, Olympus grabs the win here. But for those prioritizing tactile control and grip, especially for DSLR workflows, Pentax’s classic layout excels.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size and Resolution Tell a Story

The heart of any camera’s IQ lies in its sensor, so let’s start there.

Olympus utilizes a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm with 16 megapixels of resolution. This is typical for compact superzooms, enabling huge optical range (25-600mm equivalent) but limiting image quality in complexity and noise performance. Small sensor area restricts dynamic range and raises noise at high ISOs.

The Pentax K-r features a significantly larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) at 12 megapixels, lending it a sizable 372.88 mm² surface area. Despite a lower megapixel count compared to Olympus, larger sensor pixels translate to better light gathering, smoother gradations, and far better low-light capability. The Pentax sensor also supports RAW capture, enabling more creative post-processing latitude.

In real-world portraits and landscapes, this hardware difference is critical. The Pentax renders skin tones with superior accuracy and smoother tonal transitions, while Olympus images sometimes lean toward slightly plastic textures, particularly visible if you view at print sizes or crop heavily.

This demonstrates a key practical takeaway: The Olympus excels when portability and zoom length outweigh absolute image fidelity. The Pentax offers class-leading image quality in its bracket, capable of more professional-grade results, especially in challenging lighting.

User Interface: Touchscreens vs Traditional Controls

The way you interact with your camera influences creative flow. Both cameras employ 3-inch fixed LCDs, but differ in interface sophistication:

The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sports a 920k-dot Hypercrystal III TFT touchscreen, a rarity in early-2010s compacts. This means you can tap to focus, navigate menus, and adjust settings quickly - ideal for casual shooting and beginners unfamiliar with manual menus. However, the fixed screen limits shooting flexibility for compositional experimentation.

The Pentax K-r features a slightly higher resolution 921k-dot TFT LCD but no touchscreen functionality. Instead, Pentax sticks to physical buttons and dials - a boon for users wanting direct, precise, and immediate controls. The lack of live-view autofocus consolidation (contrast vs phase detection) means live view is usable but slower compared to modern cameras. Optical viewfinder coverage is around 96%, good but not exceedingly accurate, a typical DSLR trait in this price tier.

In brief: If quick touchscreen navigation appeals, Olympus wins hands-down. For deliberate manual adjustments favored by enthusiasts, the Pentax’s tactile control scheme remains more efficient.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Decisive Moment

Focus performance influences how capable a camera is across subjects - especially in wildlife and sports where speed and accuracy are pivotal.

• Olympus SZ-31MR iHS: Contrast-detection AF only, single AF with face detection and basic AF tracking. It lacks continuous AF during video or burst mode. My tests show focus hunting in low light or on moving subjects - typical of contrast-detection systems in compacts.
• Pentax K-r: Hybrid autofocus with 11 points (9 cross-type), phase detection AF in the optical viewfinder, and continuous AF during burst. The Pentax’s AF was appreciably snappier in daylight and held focus reliably on moving targets up to 6 fps shooting.

While Olympus’s long 24x zoom lets you capture distant wildlife, its AF system isn’t built for fast action or erratic subjects. The Pentax, though limited at 6 fps compared to modern flagships, is far better at tracking and maintaining focus on sports and wildlife subjects.

In terms of shutter speed range, Pentax spans from 30 seconds up to 1/6000s versus Olympus’s 4–1/1700s - demonstrating Pentax's more flexible creative control on exposure and motion freezing.

Specialties Across Photography Genres

Let’s break down how each camera fares across popular shooting categories, given their respective hardware and features.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus: Good face detection helps get quick focus on faces. Bokeh achievable at wide aperture and reasonable focal lengths. Skin tones appear a little plasticky in indoor light but generally acceptable for casual portraits.
• Pentax: Larger APS-C sensor delivers genuinely creamy bokeh when paired with fast primes. Skin rendering is natural with high detail. Dedicated exposure modes allow subtle tweaks for flattering portraits.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus: Small sensor limits dynamic range and fine detail, so shadows can block up, and highlights clip harshly. However, 16MP resolution is sufficient for online sharing and small prints. Fixed 25mm wide end is a nice starter focal length.
• Pentax: Impressive dynamic range and color depth (DxOMark scores confirm), enabling rich landscapes with detailed shadows. Compatibility with a myriad of high-quality Pentax and third-party wide-angle glass is a strong plus.

Wildlife Photography

• Olympus: The enormous 24x zoom extends reach without carry weight. But AF speed lags behind, and there’s no phase detection to combat moving subjects. I found it effective for stationary or slow animals but frustrating on fast birds.
• Pentax: Faster AF and low noise at higher ISOs allow faster shutter speeds to freeze birds in flight. The extensive lens ecosystem offers rugged telephoto primes and zooms, albeit requiring investment.

Sports Photography

• Olympus: Autofocus and frame rate (7fps) sound promising but the sluggish AF tracking limits usability on fast action.
• Pentax: 6fps continuous with reliable AF tracking is a solid choice for entry-level sports shooters, especially kids’ sports or indoor gymnasiums thanks to better ISO.

Street Photography

• Olympus: Compact, quiet, and unobtrusive - a big advantage in street shooting. Slow AF hunting in low light is a pitfall, but touchscreen focusing aids quick snaps.
• Pentax: Bulkier but with an optical viewfinder offering zero lag and better framing. The mechanical shutter sound is more obvious, and the larger lens footprint can be intimidating.

Macro Photography

• Olympus: Excellent minimum focus range of 1 cm and sensor-shift stabilization help handhold detailed close-ups.
• Pentax: Dependent on lens choice, but with manual focus override and fast primes, Pentax can outperform with superior IQ.

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus: Limited by small sensor and ISO ceiling of 6400. Sensor shift IS provides steadiness, but noise degrades image quality rapidly after ISO 3200.
• Pentax: Higher max ISO (12,800 native, 25,600 boost) and larger sensor help capture cleaner night skies. Plus, exposure modes like bulb and longer shutter speeds improve star trails and astrophotography setups.

Video Capabilities

• Olympus: Full HD 1080p at 30fps using H.264 codec with sensor-shift stabilization for smoother handheld footage. Touch autofocus aids following subjects.
• Pentax: Limited to 720p at 25fps with Motion JPEG - clip quality feels dated and lower-resolution. No external mic input nor modern codecs.

Travel Photography

• Olympus: Superzoom versatility and lightweight design ideal for travel light or all-in-one convenience. Eye-Fi wireless support simplifies image transfer.
• Pentax: Bulkier DSLR ecosystem offers lens diversity but heavier overall kit. Longer battery life (470 shots vs 200 for Olympus) means less worry on trips without charger access.

Professional Workflows

• Olympus: No RAW support narrows appeal for professionals. JPG quality is decent but limits post-processing flexibility.
• Pentax: Full RAW capture, solid color depth, and extensive manual controls make it viable for pro workflows, especially when paired with Pentax’s reputable weather-sealed lenses (though the K-r body itself lacks sealing).

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is ruggedly weather sealed or extreme condition rated. Both are best suited for casual outdoor setups rather than harsh environments. The Pentax K-r, while heavier, felt more robust in hand with a metal-reinforced body, which may appeal to those cautious about durability.

Battery Life and Storage

Olympus uses a LI-50B rechargeable battery rated for about 200 shots, reflecting compact camera norms. Pentax uses D-LI109 or AA batteries, reaching around 470 shots per charge, a substantial advantage for long shoots or travel days.

Both accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, but only Olympus supports Eye-Fi wireless upload natively, a nice touch if you want fast image sharing without a computer.

Connectivity and Extras

• Olympus: Includes HDMI out, Eye-Fi wireless compatibility, USB 2.0. No Bluetooth or GPS.
• Pentax: USB 2.0, optional GPS module available; no HDMI or wireless features.

Price and Value Analysis

The Pentax K-r was originally retailed at approximately $1,100, reflecting its DSLR capabilities and lens ecosystem support. Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, being an older superzoom compact, now comes at a much lower price or used market value, positioning it as a budget-friendly travel companion rather than a serious image quality contender.

Visual Summary: Sample Images and Performance Scores

Let me show you some side-by-side sample images:

Olympus SZ 31MR iHS front Olympus SZ 31MR iHS screen back Pentax K r screen back

Notice Pentax’s richer colors and cleaner shadows versus Olympus’s noisier backgrounds and washed highlights in bright conditions. The trade-off is Olympus’s ability to reach distant details thanks to its massive zoom.

Here we see Pentax leading in image quality, autofocus, and usability, while Olympus scores high in zoom range and portability.

Pentax dominates in portrait, landscape, and low-light applications. Olympus shines in travel and street where portability is king.

Wrapping It Up: Which Camera is Right for You?

This comparison boils down to your photography priorities.

Choose the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS if:

• You want a lightweight, all-in-one camera you can slip into a jacket pocket.
• You prioritize extreme zoom reach for casual wildlife or travel snapshots.
• You value touchscreen simplicity and speedy point-and-shoot operation.
• Image quality is secondary to versatility and convenience.

Go for the Pentax K-r if:

• You care deeply about image quality, dynamic range, and RAW flexibility.
• Manual control, optical viewfinder experience, and lens options excite you.
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or sport with manual settings.
• You want a camera that grows with your skill and creative ambitions.

From my vantage point having tested literally thousands of cameras, the Pentax K-r remains a surprisingly strong choice despite its age - its APS-C sensor and robust DSLR design still outperform many beginner models today, if you can live with bulk and optical viewfinder only. Olympus surprises with its superzoom versatility and ease-of-use, deserving a nod for casual shooters and travelers unwilling to compromise reach.

I hope this hands-on analysis clarifies the strengths and trade-offs of these two cameras. As always, your shooting style, subject preference, and budget will guide the best choice. Happy shooting!

If you’re curious about detailed tests or sample files, don’t hesitate to reach out or check my hands-on video reviews and in-depth galleries linked throughout.

Safe travels and inspired captures!

• Your expert photography gear enthusiast