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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V 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 HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • New Model is Sony HX50V
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is relatively similar and they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced at a similar time to the HX30V which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades vs the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony HX30V

 SZ-31MR iHS HX30V 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 HX30V SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution922k920kClearer screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony HX30V

 SZ-31MR iHS HX30V 
ReleasedFebruary 2012February 2012Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS features 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) whilst the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the HX30V.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and HX30V is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over technical specs. The visual here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and HX30V.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony HX30V to deliver greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
45
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
offers face detection focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography features
Sony HX30V Street photography features
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes focus by touch
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography advice
Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
44
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Travel photography with Sony HX30V
67
lighter than competition (226g)
includes focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than average (254 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
50
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging info
Sony HX30V Vlogging info
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony HX30V
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-02-08 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.30 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 photographs 320 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $0 $420