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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Revealed August 2005
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and ist DS2 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was launched 6 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the ist DS2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Pentax ist DS2

 SZ-31MR iHS ist DS2 
RevealedFebruary 2012August 2005Newer by 79 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k210kSharper display (+710k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 ist DS2 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax ist DS2

 SZ-31MR iHS ist DS2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS features external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Pentax ist DS2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the ist DS2.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and ist DS2 is 89 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The pic underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and ist DS2.

To sum up, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-31MR iHS because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will resolve more detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent SZ-31MR iHS will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography details
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
50
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography advice
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others (605g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography advice
44
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Travel photography with Pentax ist DS2
67
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
offers focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
52
lighter than others (605 grams)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DS2
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)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
46
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging information
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging information
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
22
lighter than others (605g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video ( resolution)
missing external mic support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSPentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Pentax ist DS2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-02-08 2005-08-22
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 605 gr (1.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 -