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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 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 NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Introduced March 2013
  • Updated by Sony A6000
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Sony NEX-6, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and NEX-6 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced 13 months earlier than the NEX-6 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores against the NEX-6 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony NEX-6

 SZ-31MR iHS NEX-6 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 NEX-6 SZ-31MR iHS 
IntroducedMarch 2013February 2012Newer by 13 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony NEX-6

 SZ-31MR iHS NEX-6 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS enjoys physical 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 NEX-6 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Sony NEX-6 in the latest 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 choose during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the NEX-6.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and NEX-6 is 89 and 85 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The pic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and NEX-6.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical resolution but different sensor dimensions. The SZ-31MR iHS has the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography features
34
MP count good (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Street photography with Sony NEX-6
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts focus by touch
lighter than average (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
78
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than others in class (345 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography info
Sony NEX-6 Sports photography info
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-6 Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than average (226 grams)
boasts focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery (200 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
75
lighter than others in class (345g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-6
41
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery (200 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
75
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Sony NEX-6
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
32
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (345 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic socket
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony NEX-6
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha NEX-6
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2012-02-08 2013-03-25
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 99
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 345 grams (0.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1018
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 360 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $365