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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax Q7 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 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
  • Introduced February 2012
Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax Q10
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 Overview

The following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and Q7 (12MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and Q7 (1/1.7") boast different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced 18 months earlier than the Q7 which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up against the Q7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax Q7

 SZ-31MR iHS Q7 
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 Q7 SZ-31MR iHS 
AnnouncedAugust 2013February 2012Newer by 18 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Q7

 SZ-31MR iHS Q7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with outer 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) while the Pentax Q7 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the Q7.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and Q7 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking technical specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and Q7.

As you can tell, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-31MR iHS using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will give you extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography advice
Pentax Q7 Portrait photography advice
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
48
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has touch to focus
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (200g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography advice
Pentax Q7 Sports photography advice
44
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking focus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
low battery power (250 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competitors (226g)
has touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
lighter than competition in class (200g)
has built in flash
low battery power (250 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax Q7
41
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
low battery power (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q7 as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (200g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax Q7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax Q7
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax Q7
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax Q7
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-02-08 2013-08-08
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V -
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
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
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 -
Available lenses - 8
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 4.90 m (ISO100/m)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000 seconds
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) FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 200g (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (12 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $480