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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax X-5 front
Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 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 X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Revealed August 2012
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Pentax X-5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the X-5 (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was launched 6 months prior to the X-5 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the X-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax X-5

 SZ-31MR iHS X-5 
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 X-5 SZ-31MR iHS 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax X-5

 SZ-31MR iHS X-5 
RevealedFebruary 2012August 2012Similar age
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys 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 X-5 has proportions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") accompanied by a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Pentax X-5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view scale comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the X-5.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and X-5 is 89 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through specifications. The graphic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and X-5.

To sum up, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical MP and you can expect similar quality of files though you will want to take the launch date of the products into consideration.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography highlights
Pentax X-5 Portrait photography highlights
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
43
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features touch to focus
lighter than average (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than average (595 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography info
Pentax X-5 Sports photography info
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
52
amazing zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography information
Pentax X-5 Travel photography information
67
lighter than average (226 grams)
features touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
53
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
great zoom (580mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (595 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography details
Pentax X-5 Landscape photography details
41
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
47
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging details
Pentax X-5 Vlogging details
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
26
reasonably wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
heavier than average (595g)
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax X-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax X-5
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax X-5
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax X-5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-02-08 2012-08-22
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 22-580mm (26.4x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 230k dots
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m 9.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 595 grams (1.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $230