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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 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-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2014
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Q-S1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and Q-S1 (1/1.7") feature different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was manufactured 3 years prior to the Q-S1 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades against the Q-S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax Q-S1

 SZ-31MR iHS Q-S1 
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 Q-S1 SZ-31MR iHS 
LaunchedAugust 2014February 2012More modern by 30 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Q-S1

 SZ-31MR iHS Q-S1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys external 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) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the Q-S1.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and Q-S1 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The image underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and Q-S1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SZ-31MR iHS because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will give more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Portrait photography with Pentax Q-S1
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
46
focusing manually
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features focus via touch
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (203 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography factors
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
37
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery pack (250 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography info
67
lighter than competition (226g)
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
60
lighter than average in class (203g)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (250 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax Q-S1
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery pack (250 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Vlogging camera
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (203 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax Q-S1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-02-08 2014-08-04
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TruePic V Q Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax Q
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file 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) 203 grams (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 images 250 images
Form of battery 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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Launch price $0 $250