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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
63
Features
73
Overall
67

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M 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
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Samsung NX300M, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the NX300M (20MP) is very close but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and NX300M (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was launched 11 months prior to the NX300M and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX300M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores against the NX300M in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Samsung NX300M

 SZ-31MR iHS NX300M 
Display resolution920k768kSharper display (+152k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 NX300M SZ-31MR iHS 
ReleasedJanuary 2013February 2012More modern by 11 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.3"3"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Samsung NX300M

 SZ-31MR iHS NX300M 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has got physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Samsung NX300M has specifications of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") and a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Samsung NX300M in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the NX300M.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and NX300M is 89 and 86 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and NX300M.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SZ-31MR iHS due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Samsung NX300M will render greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography advice
Samsung NX300M Portrait photography advice
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
77
focusing manually
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography features
Samsung NX300M Street photography features
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Sports photography camera
44
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
73
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competition (226 grams)
boasts touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
67
has touch focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Samsung NX300M
41
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3.3")
decent MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging features
Samsung NX300M Vlogging features
35
decently wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
33
has touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Samsung NX300M
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSamsung NX300M
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Samsung NX300M
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-02-08 2013-01-03
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V DRIMe IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 247
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 768 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 331 grams (0.73 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
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 images 330 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $0 $699