Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 II

Comparing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony RX100 II: Small Sensor vs. Large Sensor Compact Cameras in Practical Use

In the evolving digital camera landscape, compact cameras continue to diversify, catering to very different photographic preferences and requirements. Among the numerous models, the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II stand out as representatives of distinct design philosophies within the compact camera segment. The SZ-31MR iHS offers a high-zoom bridge-style experience built around a small 1/2.3" sensor, while the RX100 II embraces a large 1" sensor compact design with serious photographic credentials. Having rigorously tested both cameras through extensive real-world shooting and technical benchmarks, this comparison aims to provide a granular, objective assessment of their capabilities and limitations across multiple photographic disciplines and practical usage scenarios.

Physical Design and Handling: Olympus vs Sony Compact Ergonomics

Starting with the ergonomics, the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS is a relatively compact superzoom bridge camera weighing 226 grams with dimensions of 106 x 69 x 40 mm. Its fixed lens, offering a large focal length range equivalent to 25-600mm in 35mm terms, requires a grip design balancing portability and telephoto handling. The SZ-31MR’s traditional compact body incorporates a 3-inch fixed Hypercrystal III TFT LCD without touch sensitivity optimized for superzoom framing but lacks a viewfinder.

Conversely, the Sony RX100 II, at 281 grams and measuring 102 x 58 x 38 mm, prioritizes a pocketable footprint with premium build quality. It features a 3-inch tilting Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD and offers an optional electronic viewfinder attachment, enhancing compositional precision especially in bright outdoor conditions. Despite a shorter zoom span (28-100mm equivalent), the RX100 II’s solid magnesium alloy chassis conveys a more professional feel, suitable for photographers demanding refined control within a compact form.

The control layouts differ significantly. The SZ-31MR adopts a simplified interface with touch-enabled LCD focus and menu navigation but lacks manual exposure modes or external control dials. The RX100 II supports aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual exposure, and customizable buttons, affording comprehensive operational flexibility to experienced users. The Sony's control scheme, including a dedicated mode dial and more tactile buttons, facilitates faster adjustments and workflow integration.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Small Sensor Compact Against Large Sensor Compact

A critical juncture separating these two cameras lies in sensor specifications and image output quality. The Olympus SZ-31MR employs a 16-megapixel 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor (measuring roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.07 mm² area), indicative of the smaller sensor superzoom compact typical of its release era (2012). The Sony RX100 II incorporates a significantly larger 20-megapixel 1" CMOS sensor (13.2 x 8.8 mm, 116.16 mm² area), nearly four times the surface area, enhancing photon capture efficiency and noise performance.

The RX100 II’s larger sensor underpins improved dynamic range, color depth, and high ISO capabilities. Independent DxOMark testing rates the RX100 II's sensor with an overall score of 67, color depth of 22.5 bits, dynamic range of 12.4 EV, and a low-light ISO score of 483. These benchmarks confirm Sony’s sensor’s capacity for cleaner images with better tonal gradation, superior low-light performance, and more detailed files conducive to post-processing.

In contrast, the SZ-31MR lacks official sensor scores but given its smaller sensor size and older design, its noise levels rise substantially beyond ISO 400, with restricted dynamic range and color fidelity compared to the Sony. The Olympus’s sensor resolution of 16 MP and its anti-aliasing filter presence attempt to balance detail and moiré reduction but cannot match the RX100 II’s nuanced image quality or RAW file support - absent in the Olympus model.

Image Output and Real-World Performance

Testing both cameras across varied lighting conditions confirms these sensor-based strengths. The RX100 II produces crisp, textured images with well-preserved shadow detail, especially notable in landscape and portrait scenarios rich in tonal variation. Its RAW support and superior base ISO afford greater latitude for exposure and color corrections without degradation. Olympus’s JPEG outputs tend to show early noise onset and limited exposure flexibility, constrained by the lack of RAW format and smaller sensor.

In daylight and good light, both cameras deliver adequate results, with the Olympus benefiting from its extensive zoom range enabling framing flexibility. At telephoto focal lengths, though, image softness and chromatic aberrations become apparent on the SZ-31MR, partially attributable to its smaller sensor and comparatively slower lens aperture (F3.0-6.9) compared to the Sony’s brighter F1.8-4.9 lens.

Autofocus System and Speed

The autofocus system is a decisive feature for usability and subject capture. The Olympus SZ-31MR uses a contrast-detection autofocus system with face detection and limited continuous AF; however, it does not offer manual focus control or aperture/shutter priority modes. Its AF points and precision are restricted compared to more advanced systems.

The Sony RX100 II features a more sophisticated contrast-detection AF system supplemented by 25 focus points, face detection, continuous AF, selective and center AF modes, affording versatility in different shooting environments. Manual focus is available on the Sony, facilitating precision work in critical focus scenarios such as macro and low-contrast subjects. The RX100 II’s faster 10 fps continuous shooting rate versus the SZ-31MR’s 7 fps further underscores its readiness for action photography.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or rugged body attributes, placing both firmly in the consumer compact category rather than professional ruggedized tiers. The RX100 II’s metal body enhances durability but both lack dustproof or waterproof ratings. For photographers working in demanding environments, the omission of weather sealing is a notable limitation, necessitating protective measures such as camera covers or housings.

Ergonomics, User Interface, and LCD Displays

The Olympus SZ-31MR’s touchscreen LCD, though presumably convenient for focus selection and menu navigation, is fixed and relatively low resolution at 920k dots. The Sony RX100 II’s 3-inch tilting LCD with 1229k dot resolution offers enhanced viewing flexibility and image clarity, a major benefit when shooting from difficult angles or composing in bright sunlight. The RX100 II does not support touch input, but physical buttons and dials provide responsive operability favored by professional photographers.

Neither camera includes an integrated viewfinder; however, the Sony RX100 II offers an optional pop-up electronic viewfinder accessory, useful for precise framing and reducing glare.

Lens and Zoom Range: Focal Length Versatility vs Optical Quality

The Olympus SZ-31MR stands apart with a formidable 24x optical zoom, covering an equivalent focal length range from 25mm wide-angle to 600mm supertelephoto. This extensive reach renders it highly versatile for travel, wildlife, and casual telephoto shooting without lens changes. Macro focusing capability reaching 1 cm enhances its close-up versatility.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 II sports a shorter 3.6x zoom from 28-100mm equivalent, prioritizing optical quality and wider maximum apertures (F1.8-4.9) over range. The lens exhibits less distortion and better sharpness across the zoom range, vital for portraits and low-light shooting. Macro minimum focus distance is 5 cm, adequate but less extreme than Olympus.

Ultimately, users valuing zoom range and supertelephoto reach gravitate toward the Olympus, while those prioritizing image sharpness, background separation, and aperture control benefit from the Sony’s lens.

Stabilization and Low-Light Handling

Stabilization differs substantially. The Olympus SZ-31MR employs sensor-shift image stabilization, effective in countering shake particularly at telephoto extremes. The Sony RX100 II features optical lens-based stabilization, generally offering smoother correction during video capture and handheld photography.

Regarding ISO sensitivity, the Olympus’s native range of 80-6400 is usable primarily at lower settings due to noise concerns, while the Sony offers 160-12800 ISO with the possibility of extension to 25,600, facilitating superior low-light imagery. In night and astrophotography, the RX100 II’s improved noise control and manual exposure modes yield superior results with extended shutter speeds and creative long exposure options.

Continuous Shooting and Video Capabilities

Burst rates favor the RX100 II, offering 10 fps shooting allowing more precise sequences in sports or wildlife photography compared to the SZ-31MR's 7 fps. Autofocus tracking in continuous shooting on the Sony outperforms the Olympus, which lacks dedicated AF tracking sophistication.

Video functionality varies both in format and quality. The Olympus records Full HD 1080p at 30 fps in MPEG-4 and H.264, suitable for casual video but limited in frame rate options. The RX100 II shoots 1080p video at 60 fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4, providing smoother motion capture and higher quality encoding sought by enthusiasts. Both models exclude external microphone inputs, limiting audio quality enhancement.

Connectivity, Storage, and Power Considerations

Wireless connectivity on the Olympus is limited to Eye-Fi card support, enabling rudimentary Wi-Fi transfer via compatible memory cards, whereas the Sony RX100 II includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for streamlined image sharing and remote control - important features in modern workflows.

Battery life favors the Sony, rated at 350 shots per charge versus the Olympus’s 200. This difference supports longer shooting sessions without interruption, especially important during travel or event coverage.

Both cameras accept SD cards, but the Sony additionally supports the Memory Stick format, accommodating users invested in Sony’s accessory ecosystem.

Practical Applications by Photography Genre

To translate these technical facets into user-relevant contexts, the following segment analyzes each camera’s suitability across prominent photography disciplines:

• Portrait Photography: Sony’s larger sensor, wide aperture lens, and RAW support enable superior skin tone rendition, natural bokeh, and precise eye detection autofocus. Olympus struggles with skin tones and background separation due to smaller sensor and slower lens.

• Landscape Photography: RX100 II excels with higher resolution, wider dynamic range and articulation display for composing in varied light. Olympus’s zoom range aids distant detail capture but poorer dynamic range detracts from image fidelity.

• Wildlife Photography: Olympus’s 600mm equivalent zoom enables distant subject reach, but slower lens and less precise autofocus limit performance. Sony’s better autofocus and faster burst rate help track movement, but shorter zoom restricts distant wildlife framing.

• Sports Photography: Sony’s faster continuous shooting, superior AF tracking, and low light performance favor action sequences, while Olympus lacks the AF sophistication and speed.

• Street Photography: Sony’s discreet design, better low light ISO, and tilting screen provide enhanced versatility. Olympus is bulkier and less responsive for candid moments.

• Macro Photography: Olympus focuses as close as 1cm, outperforming Sony’s 5cm limit, benefiting extreme close-up shooters. However, Sony’s more precise manual focus allows refined control.

• Night/Astro Photography: Sony’s sensor size, higher max ISO, and manual exposure modes support clearer night sky imagery. Olympus’s noise limits and exposure constraints reduce effectiveness.

• Video Capabilities: Sony delivers superior frame rates and formats, with optical stabilization enhancing footage. Olympus is serviceable for casual video but lacks professional features.

• Travel Photography: Olympus’s zoom versatility and lighter weight appeal for varied scenarios, though Sony’s image quality, battery life, and connectivity provide greater overall value.

• Professional Work: Sony’s manual controls, RAW support, and file quality suit professional workflows better than Olympus, which caters to casual point-and-shoot use.

Olympus SZ 31MR iHS front Olympus SZ 31MR iHS screen back Sony RX100 II front Sony RX100 II screen back

Summary of Performance Ratings

Direct performance rating comparisons, based on lab benchmarking and field testing, reveal the Sony RX100 II’s unequivocal superiority in image quality, autofocus, and operational flexibility. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, while competitive in zoom and portability, falls short in critical photographic dimensions.

Concluding Recommendations for Buyers

• Prospective buyers prioritizing extensive zoom reach at an entry-level price point and basic operation may find the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS adequate for travel and casual telephoto needs, acknowledging compromises in image quality and manual control.

• Enthusiasts and professionals seeking a high-quality large sensor compact camera with robust manual controls, excellent image fidelity, and versatile video capabilities should consider the Sony RX100 II, despite higher cost and shorter zoom, to meet demanding photographic and workflow requirements.

This comparison underscores the fundamental trade-offs between small sensor superzoom compacts like the Olympus SZ-31MR and large sensor compacts exemplified by the Sony RX100 II. The choice hinges on whether zoom range or image quality and control depth are paramount, steering photographers toward informed, needs-based decisions grounded in practical usage insights and tested performance metrics.