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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R 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
  • Released February 2012
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5N
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is fairly similar but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-5R (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SZ-31MR iHS was announced 6 months prior to the NEX-5R so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores against the NEX-5R with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony NEX-5R

 SZ-31MR iHS NEX-5R 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 NEX-5R SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony NEX-5R

 SZ-31MR iHS NEX-5R 
IntroducedFebruary 2012August 2012Similar generation
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution920k920kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has exterior 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 NEX-5R has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the NEX-5R.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and NEX-5R is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and NEX-5R.

As you can see, the two cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The SZ-31MR iHS features the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF trickier.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Street photography with Sony NEX-5R
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography details
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
68
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competition in class (226g)
comes with touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
73
comes with touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5R as a Landscape photography camera
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
not so great battery power (200 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
75
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging advice
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic support
31
touch screen
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-02-08 2012-08-29
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
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 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 99
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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) 276 grams (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 910
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 330 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $0 $750