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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 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
  • Revealed February 2012
Sony H300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3-5.9) lens
  • 590g - 130 x 95 x 122mm
  • Announced February 2014
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the H300 (20MP) is fairly comparable and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was released 24 months prior to the H300 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony H300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades versus the H300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony H300

 SZ-31MR iHS H300 
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony H300 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 H300 SZ-31MR iHS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014February 2012More recent by 24 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony H300

 SZ-31MR iHS H300 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with physical dimensions 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 H300 has proportions of 130mm x 95mm x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") along with a weight of 590 grams (1.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the H300.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and H300 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The photograph underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and H300.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Sony H300 to provide more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography information
Sony H300 Portrait photography information
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
40
good MP (20MP)
provides face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography info
Sony H300 Street photography info
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
43
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
more heavy than competition (590 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Sony H300
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
50
great zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery (350 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography info
Sony H300 Travel photography info
67
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
better than average battery (350 shots)
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (590g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography advice
Sony H300 Landscape photography advice
41
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony H300 as a Vlogging camera
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
24
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (590g)
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony H300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony H300
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-H300
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-02-08 2014-02-13
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic V Bionz(R)
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5152 x 3864
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-875mm (35.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Viewfinder resolution - 201 thousand dot
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 8.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 590g (1.30 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 130 x 95 x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 350 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (Off, 10 sec, 2 sec, portrait1, portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $0 $249