Olympus SZ-31MR
Competitors

As well as being compared against other travel zooms and digicams, the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS is also often compared to super zooms and pro digicams. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS's top rivals come from Olympus (such as the Stylus SZ-16 iHS and the SZ-30MR) and Canon (such as the PowerShot SX260 HS and the PowerShot SX240 HS)

Generally, some of the advantages of the Olympus SZ-31MR compared to other travel zoom competitors include: it has a significantly higher resolution screen (920k dots vs 461k dots), has a touch screen, has in-camera HDR and slightly closer macro focusing (1 cm vs 3 cm).

However, on average it doesn't have a built-in GPS, doesn't record high-speed movies (none vs 220 fps), has worse image stabilization (sensor shift vs lens), doesn't record movies in 24p and doesn't take 3D photos.

Olympus Stylus SZ-16 iHS 1 year newer $215 - $229	Significant advantages of the SZ-16 iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) Records high-speed movies: 240 fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the SZ-16 iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots No touch screen common strengths of the SZ-16 iHS and SZ-31MR Great zoom: 24x vs 24x Very good maximum light sensitivity: 6,400 ISO vs 6,400 ISO In-camera HDR
	Compare the Stylus SZ-16 iHS vs the SZ-31MR
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS similar age $245 - $269	Significant advantages of the SX260 HS (vs the SZ-31MR) Has a GPS Supports 24p Records high-speed movies: 240 fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the SX260 HS (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 461k dots vs 920k dots Narrower aperture: f/3.5 vs f/3.0 No touch screen common strengths of the SX260 HS and SZ-31MR Better sensor types: CMOS vs CMOS In-camera panoramas
	Compare the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V similar age $300 - $378	Significant advantages of the DSC-HX20V (vs the SZ-31MR) Has a GPS Takes 3D photos Better maximum light sensitivity: 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO Significant disadvantages of the DSC-HX20V (vs the SZ-31MR) No touch screen common strengths of the DSC-HX20V and SZ-31MR Very high resolution screens: 921k dots vs 920k dots Very good maximum light sensitivity: 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO Fast continuous shooting: 10 fps vs 10 fps
	Compare the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 similar age $299	Significant advantages of the ZS20 (vs the SZ-31MR) Has a GPS Takes 3D photos Records high-speed movies: 220 fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the ZS20 (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots common strengths of the ZS20 and SZ-31MR Have touch screens Fast continuous shooting: 10 fps vs 10 fps In-camera HDR
	Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Olympus SZ-30MR 1 year older $360 - $391	Significant advantages of the SZ-30MR (vs the SZ-31MR) None found Significant disadvantages of the SZ-30MR (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots No touch screen Lacks in-camera HDR common strengths of the SZ-30MR and SZ-31MR Great zoom: 24x vs 24x Better sensor types: CMOS vs CMOS In-camera panoramas
	Compare the SZ-30MR vs the SZ-31MR
Olympus Stylus SH-50 iHS 1 year newer $269 - $299	Significant advantages of the SH-50 iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) None found Significant disadvantages of the SH-50 iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots common strengths of the SH-50 iHS and SZ-31MR Great zoom: 24x vs 24x Have touch screens Very good maximum light sensitivity: 6,400 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
	Compare the Stylus SH-50 iHS vs the SZ-31MR

Generally, some of the advantages of the Olympus SZ-31MR compared to other digicam competitors include: it has a slightly wider aperture (f/3.0 vs f/3.5), has a significantly higher resolution screen (920k dots vs 460k dots), slightly higher maximum light sensitivity (6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO), has a touch screen and has a CMOS-family sensor (CMOS vs CCD).

However, on average it takes slightly lower resolution photos (9.7 MP vs 10.6 MP), doesn't take 3D photos, has a slightly shorter battery life (200 shots vs 300 shots) and doesn't shoot RAW.

Olympus SZ-14 similar age $172	Significant advantages of the SZ-14 (vs the SZ-31MR) Takes 3D photos Significant disadvantages of the SZ-14 (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching Lacks in-camera HDR common strengths of the SZ-14 and SZ-31MR Great zoom: 24x vs 24x Fast continuous shooting: 10 fps vs 10 fps
	Compare the SZ-14 vs the SZ-31MR
Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR 5 months newer $279	Significant advantages of the F800EXR (vs the SZ-31MR) Takes 3D photos Shoots RAW Significant disadvantages of the F800EXR (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots Narrower aperture: f/3.5 vs f/3.0 No touch screen common strengths of the F800EXR and SZ-31MR Better sensor types: CMOS vs CMOS In-camera panoramas
	Compare the Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Generally, some of the advantages of the Olympus SZ-31MR compared to super zoom competitors include: it has a significantly higher resolution screen (920k dots vs 461k dots), is slightly smaller (mid size 106x69x40 mm vs prosumer size 117x78x93 mm), slightly higher maximum light sensitivity (6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO), has a touch screen and shoots faster continuously (10 fps vs 1.5 fps).

However, on average it has significantly less zoom (24x vs 36x), doesn't record high-speed movies (none vs 120 fps), doesn't have a screen which flips out, doesn't take 3D photos and is less popular.

Olympus 720UZ similar age $179 - $199	Significant advantages of the 720UZ (vs the SZ-31MR) Takes 3D photos Significant disadvantages of the 720UZ (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots No touch screen Much worse macro capability: 10 cm vs 1 cm common strengths of the 720UZ and SZ-31MR Fairly small: Standard size 107x72x73 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm In-camera HDR Better sensor types: CMOS vs CMOS
	Compare the 720UZ vs the SZ-31MR
Nikon Coolpix L820 7 months newer $277	Significant advantages of the L820 (vs the SZ-31MR) Records high-speed movies: 240 fps vs None Takes 3D photos Significantly faster max shutter speed: 1/4000 of a second vs 1/1700 of a second Significant disadvantages of the L820 (vs the SZ-31MR) No touch screen Larger: Prosumer size 111x76x85 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm Significantly heavier: 470 g vs 226 g common strengths of the L820 and SZ-31MR Very high resolution screens: 921k dots vs 920k dots Fairly small: Prosumer size 111x76x85 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm Better sensor types: CMOS vs CMOS
	Compare the Nikon Coolpix L820 vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Nikon Coolpix P510 similar age $347 - $349	Significant advantages of the P510 (vs the SZ-31MR) Much more zoom: 41.7x vs 24x Has a flip-out screen Takes 3D photos Significant disadvantages of the P510 (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly larger: Professional size 120x83x102 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm No touch screen Much thicker: 4" vs 1.6" common strengths of the P510 and SZ-31MR Very high resolution screens: 921k dots vs 920k dots In-camera HDR Better sensor types: CMOS vs CMOS
	Compare the Nikon Coolpix P510 vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ iHS 6 months newer $249	Significant advantages of the SP-820UZ iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) Much more zoom: 40.7x vs 24x Records high-speed movies: 240 fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the SP-820UZ iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 460k dots vs 920k dots No touch screen Significantly larger: Prosumer size 117x78x93 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm common strengths of the SP-820UZ iHS and SZ-31MR Fairly small: Prosumer size 117x78x93 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm In-camera HDR Better sensor types: CMOS vs CMOS
	Compare the Stylus SP-820UZ iHS vs the SZ-31MR
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS 6 months newer $248 - $249	Significant advantages of the SX500 IS (vs the SZ-31MR) None found Significant disadvantages of the SX500 IS (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 461k dots vs 920k dots No touch screen Shoots significantly slower: 0.8 fps vs 10 fps common strengths of the SX500 IS and SZ-31MR Fairly small: Standard size 104x69x80 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm Light weight: 341 g vs 226 g Thin: 3.2" vs 1.6"
	Compare the Canon PowerShot SX500 IS vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Olympus SP-810 UZ 6 months older $180	Significant advantages of the SP-810 UZ (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly more zoom: 36x vs 24x Significant disadvantages of the SP-810 UZ (vs the SZ-31MR) Much lower resolution screen: 230k dots vs 920k dots No touch screen Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching common strengths of the SP-810 UZ and SZ-31MR Fairly small: Standard size 105x75x73 mm vs Mid size 106x69x40 mm Light weight: 413 g vs 226 g Thin: 2.9" vs 1.6"
	Compare the SP-810 UZ vs the SZ-31MR

Generally, some of the advantages of the Olympus SZ-31MR compared to pro digicam competitors include: it has significantly more zoom (24x vs 4x), has a slightly higher resolution screen (920k dots vs 614k dots), has a touch screen, has a CMOS-family sensor (CMOS vs CCD) and creates panoramas in-camera.

However, on average it has a much smaller sensor (1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/1.6" 8.3x6.2mm), doesn't shoot RAW, has a much narrower aperture (f/3.0 vs f/1.4), takes significantly lower resolution photos (9.7 MP vs 11.8 MP) and doesn't record movies in 24p.

Olympus XZ-1 1 year older $323	Significant advantages of the XZ-1 (vs the SZ-31MR) Much larger sensor: 1/1.6" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm Shoots RAW Much wider aperture: f/1.8 vs f/3.0 Significant disadvantages of the XZ-1 (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly less zoom: 4x vs 24x No touch screen Significantly lower resolution screen: 614k dots vs 920k dots common strengths of the XZ-1 and SZ-31MR In-camera HDR In-camera panoramas Inexpensive: $322.95 vs $253.81
	Compare the XZ-1 vs the SZ-31MR
Canon Powershot S100 4 months older $325 - $349	Significant advantages of the S100 (vs the SZ-31MR) Shoots RAW Much wider aperture: f/2.0 vs f/3.0 Significantly larger sensor: 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm Significant disadvantages of the S100 (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly lower resolution screen: 461k dots vs 920k dots Less zoom: 5x vs 24x No touch screen common strengths of the S100 and SZ-31MR Fast continuous shooting: 10 fps vs 10 fps In-camera HDR Inexpensive: $325.00 vs $253.81
	Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Olympus XZ-2 iHS 7 months newer $549	Significant advantages of the XZ-2 iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) Shoots RAW Much wider aperture: f/1.8 vs f/3.0 Significantly larger sensor: 1/1.8" 7.4x5.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm Significant disadvantages of the XZ-2 iHS (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly less zoom: 4x vs 24x common strengths of the XZ-2 iHS and SZ-31MR High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 920k dots Have touch screens
	Compare the XZ-2 iHS vs the SZ-31MR
Samsung EX2F 4 months newer $299 - $340	Significant advantages of the EX2F (vs the SZ-31MR) Much wider aperture: f/1.4 vs f/3.0 Shoots RAW Much larger sensor: 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm Significant disadvantages of the EX2F (vs the SZ-31MR) Significantly less zoom: 3.3x vs 24x No touch screen Significantly lower resolution screen: 614k dots vs 920k dots common strengths of the EX2F and SZ-31MR In-camera HDR In-camera panoramas Inexpensive: $299.00 vs $253.81
	Compare the Samsung EX2F vs the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS