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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 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
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed January 2008
  • Later Model is Sony A330
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A300, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and A300 (10MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was brought out 4 years later than the A300 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up against the A300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A300

 SZ-31MR iHS A300 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2008More recent by 49 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A300 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A300

 SZ-31MR iHS A300 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony A300 has sizing of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A300 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the A300.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and A300 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-31MR iHS and A300.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-31MR iHS because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will give you extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern SZ-31MR iHS will have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography information
Sony A300 Portrait photography information
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography advice
Sony A300 Street photography advice
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers touch to focus
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography advice
Sony A300 Sports photography advice
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
54
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography advice
Sony A300 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
offers touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
45
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography highlights
Sony A300 Landscape photography highlights
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
57
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low MP (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Sony A300
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
9
can't record video
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A300
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-02-08 2008-01-30
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 538
Other
Battery life 200 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $0