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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 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 G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Sony G3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and G3 (10MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was unveiled 3 years after the G3 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up against the G3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony G3

 SZ-31MR iHS G3 
IntroducedFebruary 2012January 2009More modern by 38 months

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 G3 SZ-31MR iHS 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen dimension3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony G3

 SZ-31MR iHS G3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony G3 has sizing of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Sony G3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the G3.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and G3 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading technical specs. The pic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and G3.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to deliver greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent SZ-31MR iHS will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony G3 as a Portrait photography camera
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
26
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography information
Sony G3 Street photography information
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Sony G3
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography factors
Sony G3 Travel photography factors
67
lighter than competition (226 grams)
provides focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony G3 as a Landscape photography camera
41
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
36
has manual focus
lovely big screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony G3 as a Vlogging camera
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
27
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony G3
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-08 2009-01-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-10.0
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3.5 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.30 m 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 185 grams (0.41 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $200