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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V 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
  • Announced February 2012
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the HX9V (16MP) is fairly similar and both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was released 7 months later than the HX9V so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores against the HX9V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony HX9V

 SZ-31MR iHS HX9V 
IntroducedFebruary 2012July 2011More recent by 7 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 HX9V SZ-31MR iHS 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony HX9V

 SZ-31MR iHS HX9V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS provides outside dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony HX9V has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS vs the HX9V.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and HX9V is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-31MR iHS and HX9V.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same megapixels so you should expect similar quality of photographs though you really should consider the production date of the products into consideration. The more modern SZ-31MR iHS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography details
Sony HX9V Portrait photography details
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
39
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography factors
Sony HX9V Street photography factors
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes touch focus
lighter than others (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (245 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography features
Sony HX9V Sports photography features
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony HX9V Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than others (226 grams)
includes touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than others (245g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX9V Landscape photography highlights
41
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery life (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX9V as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
33
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (245 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony HX9V
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-02-08 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TruePic V BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 245 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $0 $328