Olympus SZ-30MR vs Nikon Coolpix S31

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      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Olympus SZ-30MR and the Nikon Coolpix S31, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Olympus SZ-30MR was introduced in March 2011 and Nikon Coolpix S31 was introduced in June 2013. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Olympus SZ-30MR Highlights

      • 16 MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
      • 80 - 3,200 Native ISO
      • Image Stabilization
      • 3.0" 460k dot Fixed Screen
      • 1.7 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash

      Nikon Coolpix S31 Highlights

      • 10.1 MP 1/2.9-inch CCD Sensor
      • 80 - 1,600 Native ISO
      • 2.70" 230k dot Fixed Screen
      • 1280 x 720 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash
      • Wheather Sealed Body

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Olympus SZ-30MR and Nikon Coolpix S31.

      PROS

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      •   Video Capture
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Video Capture
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz)
      •   Internal Storage

      CONS

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      •   Small Sensor
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1700 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.7 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.1 Megapixel
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   Short Battery Life - 260 shots


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Size - 2.70"

      Advantage of Olympus SZ-30MR

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Olympus SZ-30MR over Nikon Coolpix S31.

      Olympus SZ-30MR vs Nikon Coolpix S31
      Larger Sensor 1/2.3-inch vs 1/2.9-inch
      Higher Sensor Resolution 16 Megapixel vs 10.1 Megapixel
      Higher Native ISO 3,200 vs 1,600
      Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 vs 3648 x 2736
      Multi Area Autofocus vs
      Tracking Autofocus vs
      Single Autofocus vs
      Face Detection vs
      Live View Autofocus vs
      Contrast Detection for Autofocus vs
      Reaches Wider Angle 25 mm vs 29 mm
      Reachs More Telephoto 600 mm vs 87 mm
      Greater Optical Zoom 24x vs 3x
      Image Stabilization vs
      Larger Screen 3.0" vs 2.70"
      Higher Resolution Screen 460k dot vs 230k dot
      Multi-Segment Metering vs
      Spot Metering vs
      Higher Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720
      Built-in Microphone Stereo vs Mono

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Olympus SZ-30MR.

      Advantage of Nikon Coolpix S31

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon Coolpix S31 over Olympus SZ-30MR.

      Olympus SZ-30MR vs Nikon Coolpix S31
      Higher Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) 1/1700 sec vs 1/2000 sec
      Environmental Sealing vs
      Water Proof vs
      Dust Proof vs
      Shock Proof vs
      Freeze Proof vs
      Lighter 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz) vs 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz)
      Longer Battery Life 220 shots vs 260 shots

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Nikon Coolpix S31.

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Olympus SZ-30MR Nikon Coolpix S31
        Video Capture
        Low Native ISO8080
        High Native ISO3,2001,600
        Built-in Flash
        Light226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz)
      WEAKNESSES Olympus SZ-30MR Nikon Coolpix S31
        Small Sensor1/2.3-inch1/2.9-inch
        Timelapse Recording
        Few Cross-type Focus Points00
        Screen TypeFixedFixed
        Low Resolution Screen460k dot230k dot
        No Viewfinder
        Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)1/1700 sec1/2000 sec
        No External Flash Connectivity
        Low Video Resolution1920 x 10801280 x 720
        No Microphone Input
        No Headphone Output
        No Built-in GPS
        No Built-In Wi-Fi Eye-Fi Connection possible
        No Built-In Bluetooth
        Short Battery Life220 shots260 shots

      Screen

      Screen

      Olympus SZ-30MR has a 3.0" screen with 460k dot resolution and Nikon Coolpix S31 has a 2.70" screen with 230k dot resolution. Both have Fixed screens.

      Sensor

      Olympus SZ-30MR features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with dimensions of 6.17 x 4.55 mm and a total area of 28.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 3,200. Nikon Coolpix S31 features a 10.1 megapixel 1/2.9-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 4.96 x 3.72 mm and a total area of 13.8 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 1,600.

      Photography Features

      Olympus SZ-30MR is equipped with TruePic III+ processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 with 4:3, 16:9 aspect ratios. Nikon Coolpix S31 can take pictures up to 3648 x 2736 resolution.

      Image Stabilization on Olympus SZ-30MR

      Olympus SZ-30MR has an image stabilization.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Olympus SZ-30MR comes with LI-50B battery pack with battery life of 220 shots and Nikon Coolpix S31 comes with EN-EL12 battery pack with battery life of 260 shots.


      External Storage Slots

      Olympus SZ-30MR has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. Nikon Coolpix S31 has a single SD /SDHC/SDXC card slot.

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Shutter speed can go up to 1/1700 sec on Olympus SZ-30MR, and up to 1/2000 sec on Nikon Coolpix S31. Olympus SZ-30MR can shoot continuously up to 1.7 fps.


      Flash

      Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 4.00 m on Olympus SZ-30MR..

      Physical Parameters

      Olympus SZ-30MR body has dimensions of 106 x 69 x 40 mm (4.17 x 2.72 x 1.57") and Nikon Coolpix S31 body has dimensions of 105 x 65 x 42 mm (4.13 x 2.56 x 1.65"). Olympus SZ-30MR weighs 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz) and Nikon Coolpix S31 weighs 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz).

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      106 mm

      69 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      105 mm

      65 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      69 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      65 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      Size comparisons of Olympus SZ-30MR and Nikon Coolpix S31

      Olympus SZ-30MR and Nikon Coolpix S31 for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      POOR
      49
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      AVERAGE
      62
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      AVERAGE
      67
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.7 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      BAD
      39
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Short Battery Life - 260 shots

      Wildlife Photography

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      AVERAGE
      65
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.7 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      60
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 260 shots

      Portrait Photography

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      GOOD
      72
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      •   Orientation Sensor
      BAD
      39
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 2.70"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   No External Flash Connectivity

      Street Photography

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      GOOD
      83
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      GOOD
      82
      •   Small Sensor
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      EXCELLENT
      86
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      EXCELLENT
      88
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 260 shots

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Olympus SZ-30MR and Nikon Coolpix S31 and give them scores of 56 and 32 out of 100 recpectively. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      OVERALL
      56
      OVERALL
      32

      Sensor

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      POOR
      52
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
      BAD
      36
      •   Small Sensor
      •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.1 Megapixel
      •   80 Lowest Native ISO
      •   1,600 Highest Native ISO

      Photo

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      AVERAGE
      60
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/1700 sec
      •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.7 fps
      •   No External Flash Connectivity
      BAD
      26
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/2000 sec
      •   No External Flash Connectivity

      Video

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      POOR
      46
      •   Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      BAD
      7
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1280 x 720

      Focusing

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      AVERAGE
      68
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      BAD
      0
      •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Face Detection

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      POOR
      53
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      POOR
      50
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 2.70"
      •   Low Resolution Screen - 230k dot
      •   No Viewfinder

      Connectivity

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      AVERAGE
      60
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      BAD
      38
      •   No Microphone Input
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Olympus SZ-30MR

      Nikon Coolpix S31

      POOR
      44
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 226 g (0.50 lb / 7.97 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 220 shots
      AVERAGE
      69
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 260 shots
      •   Internal Storage


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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