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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q 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
  • Launched February 2012
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Updated by Pentax Q10
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and Q (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was announced 8 months after the Q and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up against the Q when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 SZ-31MR iHS Q 
RevealedFebruary 2012June 2011Newer by 8 months
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 Q SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

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

 SZ-31MR iHS Q 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS offers outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax Q has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS and the Q.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and Q is 89 and 93 respectively.

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

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-31MR iHS and Q.

Clearly, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to result in extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The newer SZ-31MR iHS will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
Pentax Q Portrait photography details
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
45
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography details
Pentax Q Street photography details
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has touch to focus
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (180g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography details
Pentax Q Sports photography details
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (230 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography details
Pentax Q Travel photography details
67
lighter than competitors (226g)
has touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
57
lighter than competition in class (180g)
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
bad battery power (230 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
51
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (180 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Q
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax Q
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax Q
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-02-08 2011-06-23
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 180 grams (0.40 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 47
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 189
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 230 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $695