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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 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 A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Successor is Sony A57
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-31MR iHS was introduced 18 months after the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the SZ-31MR iHS grades versus the A55 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Sony A55

 SZ-31MR iHS A55 
LaunchedFebruary 2012August 2010More modern by 18 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A55 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A55

 SZ-31MR iHS A55 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS comes with external measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS versus Sony A55 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the SZ-31MR iHS versus the A55.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-31MR iHS and A55 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-31MR iHS and A55.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The SZ-31MR iHS comes with the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF harder. The fresher SZ-31MR iHS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Portrait photography with Sony A55
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
77
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sports photography with Sony A55
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
low battery life (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
Sony A55 Travel photography highlights
67
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
provides touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
62
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Landscape photography with Sony A55
41
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery power (200 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
67
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (380 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Vlogging factors
Sony A55 Vlogging factors
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
78
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-31MR iHS and Sony A55
 Olympus SZ-31MR iHSSony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sony SLT-A55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-02-08 2010-08-24
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 grams (0.50 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
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 rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 200 shots 380 shots
Type of battery 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)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $800