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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2012
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Old Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 V
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is very well matched but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and RX100 IV (1") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was revealed 4 years prior to the RX100 IV which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up against the RX100 IV for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony RX100 IV

 SZ-31MR iHS RX100 IV 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 RX100 IV SZ-31MR iHS 
AnnouncedJune 2015February 2012More modern by 40 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k920kCrisper display (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony RX100 IV

 SZ-31MR iHS RX100 IV 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony RX100 IV has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS and the RX100 IV.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-31MR iHS and RX100 IV is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-31MR iHS and RX100 IV.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-31MR iHS having a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony RX100 IV will resolve more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged SZ-31MR iHS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography features
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
65
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography features
Sony RX100 IV Street photography features
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography advice
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
no phase detect AF
68
silent mode (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (16.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
features tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography factors
67
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
includes touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
86
lighter than competition in class (298 grams)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
74
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging advice
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (298g)
lack of mic port
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony RX100 IV
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-02-08 2015-06-10
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TruePic V Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
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
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000 seconds
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 298g (0.66 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 562
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 280 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $898