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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 front
Portability
65
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 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
Sony A450
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 560g - 137 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A450, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the A450 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A450 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced 2 years after the A450 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up versus the A450 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A450

 SZ-31MR iHS A450 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012January 2010Newer by 26 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A450 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A450 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A450

 SZ-31MR iHS A450 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS offers physical measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A450 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A450 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS compared to the A450.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and A450 is 89 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The image below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and A450.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SZ-31MR iHS having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will give you more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The younger SZ-31MR iHS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony A450 Portrait photography highlights
34
good MP (16MP)
includes face detect focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
72
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Street photography with Sony A450
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers touch focus
lighter than others in class (226g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography features
Sony A450 Sports photography features
44
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
77
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great battery life (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography advice
Sony A450 Travel photography advice
67
lighter than others in class (226g)
offers touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
60
great battery life (1,050 shots)
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography info
Sony A450 Landscape photography info
41
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery (200 shots)
no Timelapse recording
66
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging advice
Sony A450 Vlogging advice
35
relatively wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no microphone port
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A450 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A450
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A450
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A450
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-02-08 2010-01-05
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD TFT Clear Photo Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Fill, Rear Sync, Slow Sync, Wireless/ High Speed Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic 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) 560 grams (1.23 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 137 x 104 x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 769
Other
Battery life 200 shots 1050 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $1,241