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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 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
  • Launched February 2012
Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Newer Model is Sony A380
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is fairly close but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A350 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-31MR iHS was brought out 3 years after the A350 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades against the A350 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A350

 SZ-31MR iHS A350 
RevealedFebruary 2012June 2008Newer by 45 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A350 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A350

 SZ-31MR iHS A350 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has got 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 A350 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS and the A350.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and A350 is 89 and 62 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and A350.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-31MR iHS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will provide you with greater detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger SZ-31MR iHS provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A350 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
71
focusing manually
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Street photography with Sony A350
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competition (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
more heavy than competition (674g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography factors
Sony A350 Sports photography factors
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography information
Sony A350 Travel photography information
67
lighter than competition (226g)
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
51
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (674g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography factors
Sony A350 Landscape photography factors
41
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
64
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging highlights
Sony A350 Vlogging highlights
35
really wide (25mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A350
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-02-08 2008-06-06
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 674 grams (1.49 lb)
Physical 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 score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 595
Other
Battery life 200 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $0 $600