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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 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
  • Announced February 2012
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A6300
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 Overview

Here is a in depth assessment of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A6500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A6500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was brought out 5 years prior to the A6500 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores vs the A6500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A6500

 SZ-31MR iHS A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A6500 SZ-31MR iHS 
ReleasedOctober 2016February 2012Fresher by 56 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k920kSharper screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A6500

 SZ-31MR iHS A6500 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with 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) whilst the Sony A6500 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A6500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the A6500.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the difference in sensor sizing only by looking through specs. The visual below should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and A6500.

All in all, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-31MR iHS because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A6500 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography info
Sony A6500 Portrait photography info
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
80
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography features
Sony A6500 Street photography features
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Sony A6500
44
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
77
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Travel photography with Sony A6500
67
lighter than competition in class (226g)
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
74
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A6500
41
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Vlogging with Sony A6500
35
really wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic jack
39
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A6500
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Alpha a6500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2012-02-08 2016-10-06
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V Bionz X
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 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 425
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 453 grams (1.00 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 200 shots 350 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $1,298