Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the RX10 III (20MP) is very comparable but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and RX10 III (1") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was revealed 5 years before the RX10 III and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades versus the RX10 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Gallery & Sony RX10 III Gallery.

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has exterior measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony RX10 III has proportions of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") with a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS and the RX10 III.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and RX10 III is 89 and 53 respectively.

More often than not, it is very hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-31MR iHS and RX10 III.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-31MR iHS using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony RX10 III will produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The older SZ-31MR iHS will be behind in sensor tech.