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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 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
  • Launched February 2012
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the WX30 (16MP) is fairly comparable and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SZ-31MR iHS was launched 7 months after the WX30 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SZ-31MR iHS matches up against the WX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony WX30

 SZ-31MR iHS WX30 
IntroducedFebruary 2012July 2011More modern by 7 months

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 WX30 SZ-31MR iHS 
Display resolution922k920kClearer display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony WX30

 SZ-31MR iHS WX30 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS provides 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 WX30 has proportions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS against the WX30.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and WX30 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by checking out specs. The picture underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and WX30.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same resolution therefore you can expect comparable quality of photographs though you should really factor the launch date of the cameras into account. The more recent SZ-31MR iHS provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography advice
Sony WX30 Portrait photography advice
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
30
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography advice
Sony WX30 Street photography advice
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition (226g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography highlights
Sony WX30 Sports photography highlights
44
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony WX30 Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than competition (226 grams)
features touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than average in class (117g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography information
Sony WX30 Landscape photography information
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery (200 per charge)
no Timelapse function
43
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX30 as a Vlogging camera
35
relatively wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony WX30
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-02-08 2011-07-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TruePic V BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface 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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m 3.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 gr (0.50 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 250 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $0 $259