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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 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
  • Revealed February 2012
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A35
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A33, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the A33 (14MP) is fairly similar but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A33 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was brought out 18 months later than the A33 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SZ-31MR iHS scores vs the A33 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A33

 SZ-31MR iHS A33 
RevealedFebruary 2012August 2010More recent by 18 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A33 SZ-31MR iHS 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A33

 SZ-31MR iHS A33 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS features exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A33 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A33 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the A33.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-31MR iHS and A33 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The visual here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-31MR iHS and A33.

All in all, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SZ-31MR iHS because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will offer you more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent SZ-31MR iHS is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony A33 Portrait photography highlights
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
72
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography information
Sony A33 Street photography information
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
76
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Sony A33
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony A33 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competition (226g)
comes with focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
61
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (340 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A33 as a Landscape photography camera
41
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
67
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (340 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A33 as a Vlogging camera
35
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
77
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone support
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A33
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony SLT-A33
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony SLT-A33
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-02-08 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 9.30 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lb) 500 grams (1.10 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 591
Other
Battery life 200 shots 340 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $230