• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 28.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Olympus SZ-31MR advantages over Samsung NX500

  • Less expensive
    $400 vs $800 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Samsung NX500 advantages over Olympus SZ-31MR

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.63 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 370 vs 200 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • More pixels
    28.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 4 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.8 fps vs 7.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    38 vs 5 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/6000 vs 1/1700 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Buy the Olympus SZ-31MR

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Buy the Samsung NX500
Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (Brown)
  • Kit with 16-50mm PZ Lens (White)
All NX500 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Very good image quality with high-resolution files; Excellent high ISO performance with RAW files; Very good dynamic range; Fast AF performance; Compact design with good build quality; Better ergonomics than predecessor; 4K video recording.

  • High ISO noise reduction too strong; AF struggles in low-light; Buffer depth is shallow with RAW files; No option for EVF; No built-in flash (external one included); 4K Video is cropped with narrower FOV.

  • Read our Samsung NX500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus SZ-30MR

Olympus SZ-31MR
Olympus SZ-30MR
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch

Compare Olympus SZ-31MR vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Samsung NX500
Olympus SZ-30MR
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Compared to Olympus SZ-15

Olympus SZ-31MR
Olympus SZ-15
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Olympus SZ-31MR vs Olympus SZ-15

Samsung NX500
Olympus SZ-15
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Olympus SZ-15

Compared to Olympus SH-50

Olympus SZ-31MR
Olympus SH-50
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen

Compare Olympus SZ-31MR vs Olympus SH-50

Samsung NX500
Olympus SH-50
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Olympus SH-50

Compared to Sony A6500

Olympus SZ-31MR
Sony A6500
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Thinner
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus SZ-31MR vs Sony A6500

Samsung NX500
Sony A6500
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • More pixels
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Sony A6500

Compared to Leica TL2

Olympus SZ-31MR
Leica TL2
  • $400
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $2495
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus SZ-31MR vs Leica TL2

Samsung NX500
Leica TL2
  • $1600
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $2495
  • APS-C
  • Faster JPEG shooting
  • Faster RAW shooting

Compare Samsung NX500 vs Leica TL2

Compare Other Cameras?