Olympus engineers have found an attractive, but empty niche among standard, powerful ultr-zooms, their shrunken budget versions and small compacts with a strong optical zoom. “Mid-range” according to Olympus features great, though not record-breaking, zoom in a comfortable, but not huge body. The SZ-31MR is just that.
16MP 25-600 24x 3″ $310
The camera lens covers focal lengths from 25 to 600 millimeters. More than travel-compact cameras can give, although they are half as weak as the leaders in their class. The SZ-31MR is distinguished from budget models with similar magnification and travel cameras by its both ergonomic and compact body. A pronounced grip increases grip comfort when working, and a thickness of 4 centimeters and a weight of less than 250 grams increases comfort when carrying the camera.
The iHS suffix in the name indicates the special speed capabilities. Fast sensor, optics, and dual TruePix V processors deliver blazing-fast focusing with tracking mode, shooting at up to 10fps or 60 fps , Full HD video recording, and unique additional features like saving full-size still images while recording video.
There are many tools in the camera for “pre” improvement of images and their post-processing. And the editor is operated by gestures and strokes: the 3-inch display, with a resolution of 920,000 thou. dots sensitive to touch. Experienced amateur photographers are disappointed by the poor manual control options: you can’t even control the exposure manually. But in other respects the SZ-31MR is a well-balanced handy, long-range and handheld ultra-zoom.
Can anyone tell me if the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS compact digital camera is worth buying?
Can anyone share their experience with the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS compact digital camera? How is the image quality and performance? Are the features user-friendly? Any drawbacks or limitations worth considering? Appreciate any insights before making a purchase. Thank you!