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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 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 RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was revealed 5 months later than the RZ18 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades vs the RZ18 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax RZ18

 SZ-31MR iHS RZ18 
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 RZ18 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manual focus More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax RZ18

 SZ-31MR iHS RZ18 
RevealedFebruary 2012September 2011Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS provides outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Pentax RZ18 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the RZ18.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and RZ18 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and RZ18.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same exact MP and you can expect similar quality of photos although you need to take the launch date of the products into consideration.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography details
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
36
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (226g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than others in class (178g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography information
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography information
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
low fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography information
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography information
67
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
has focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than others in class (178g)
environment proof
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography info
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography info
41
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
49
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging factors
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging factors
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
30
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (178g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-02-08 2011-09-12
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $0 $210