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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III 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 RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Launched March 2016
  • Replaced the Sony RX10 II
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 IV
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony RX10 III

 SZ-31MR iHS RX10 III 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 RX10 III SZ-31MR iHS 
LaunchedMarch 2016February 2012More recent by 50 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k920kSharper display (+309k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony RX10 III

 SZ-31MR iHS RX10 III 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

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

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography advice
34
resolution is good (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography advice
Sony RX10 III Street photography advice
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competitors (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
64
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW formats
weather proof
more heavy than others (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Sony RX10 III
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
70
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports tracking focus
weather proof
good battery power (420 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX10 III as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competitors (226 grams)
boasts touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
55
good battery power (420 CIPA)
weather proof
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (1,051 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography factors
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography factors
41
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
64
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW formats
weather proof
good battery power (420 shots)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging advice
Sony RX10 III Vlogging advice
35
decently wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
28
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone port
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than others (1,051 grams)
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony RX10 III
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-02-08 2016-03-29
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 14.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 1051 grams (2.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 472
Other
Battery life 200 images 420 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $0 $1,398