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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 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
  • Introduced February 2012
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced May 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was released 9 months later than the A580 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades vs the A580 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A580

 SZ-31MR iHS A580 
IntroducedFebruary 2012May 2011Fresher by 9 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A580 SZ-31MR iHS 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k920kCrisper screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A580

 SZ-31MR iHS A580 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the A580.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and A580 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and A580.

Clearly, both the cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizing. The SZ-31MR iHS contains the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging. The younger SZ-31MR iHS should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography features
Sony A580 Portrait photography features
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography features
Sony A580 Street photography features
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
75
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A580 as a Sports photography camera
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
has no phase detect AF
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography features
Sony A580 Travel photography features
67
lighter than others in class (226g)
boasts focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
60
great battery pack (1,050 shots)
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography features
Sony A580 Landscape photography features
41
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (1,050 per charge)
has double storage slots
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone port
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A580
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-02-08 2011-05-26
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
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 -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1700s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 599 grams (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 1121
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 1050 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 2
Retail cost $0 $848