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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 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
  • Revealed February 2012
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Older Model is Sony A380
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A390, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is pretty close but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A390 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was released 19 months later than the A390 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades vs the A390 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A390

 SZ-31MR iHS A390 
ReleasedFebruary 2012July 2010Fresher by 19 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A390 SZ-31MR iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A390

 SZ-31MR iHS A390 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has got outside 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 Sony A390 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A390 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the A390.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and A390 is 89 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The graphic below will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and A390.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-31MR iHS due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will render more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger SZ-31MR iHS is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A390 as a Portrait photography camera
34
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography features
Sony A390 Street photography features
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than others (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
76
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Sony A390
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A390 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than others (226g)
comes with focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
53
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A390
41
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery (230 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
9
no video recording
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A390
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-02-08 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V Bionz
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias 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 focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology 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 rate 7.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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) 549 grams (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 230 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $0 $500