Canon PowerShot A800 vs Olympus SH-50: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Contenders

When hunting for a compact point-and-shoot camera, enthusiasts often weigh options on image quality, zoom capabilities, ergonomics, and advanced features. Today, I’m dissecting two intriguing models: the Canon PowerShot A800, launched in early 2011, and Olympus’s SH-50 superzoom from 2013. Both cameras share a compact form factor but cater to somewhat different priorities - the A800 leans toward simplicity and portability, while the SH-50 packs a more versatile zoom range and advanced shooting tools.

Having put thousands of cameras through rigorous hands-on testing over the past 15 years, my goal is to cut through specs and marketing to give you the practical insights that only come from deep, comparative experience. Whether you’re a casual snapshooter, a keen travel photographer, or a more demanding enthusiast, this review will help you make an informed choice between these two notable compacts.

Size and Handling: Pocketability vs. Grip Stability

Straight out of the box, these cameras feel quite different in your hands and pockets. The Canon A800 is decidedly petite - measuring 94 x 61 x 31mm and weighing a featherlight 186g, thanks largely to its simple design and AA batteries. The Olympus SH-50 is chunkier at 112 x 63 x 42mm and 269g, reflecting its extensive zoom lens and bigger LCD screen.

Although the Canon's slim profile is a boon for slipping into a jacket pocket or small bag, the SH-50’s chunkier body is ergonomically shaped to improve grip and control during longer shoots. The SH-50’s deeper handhold and slightly larger buttons feel more intentional, which can make a real difference when you’re framing tricky shots or shooting fast-moving subjects.

The Canon sticks with a very minimalist layout, suitable for casual users focused on snapshot ease. Olympus introduces a more feature-rich button arrangement, which I appreciate when manual adjustments are needed. The SH-50 also brings touchscreen control - an increasingly welcome feature for Swift menu navigation and focus point selection.

Top Layout and Controls: Simplicity vs Functionality

Moving beyond raw size, the cameras’ control schemes reveal their different design philosophies.

The Canon A800 is just about as simple as it gets: there’s a modestly sized mode dial, on/off switch, shutter release, and zoom lever with no dedicated buttons for manual exposure or custom settings. This simplicity is perfect for point-and-shoot use but may frustrate anyone looking to tweak settings on the fly.

Conversely, the Olympus SH-50’s top plate earns bonus points for including a dedicated shutter speed/emode dial, exposure compensation control, and a clean power button arrangement. The zoom rocker handle is robust, matching the camera’s extensive 25-600mm (24× equivalent) lens range. Its programmable custom buttons allow quicker access to important functions, reflecting a more enthusiast-oriented approach.

In everyday use, the SH-50's controls invite experimentation and creative freedom, whereas the A800 offers a plug-and-play experience with fewer distractions.

Sensor and Image Quality: 10 vs 16 Megapixels on 1/2.3" Sensors

Under the hood, both cameras rely on a 1/2.3" sensor, which is a tiny size by professional standards yet typical for compacts. The catch? Small sensors struggle in low light and deliver limited dynamic range. However, resolution and sensor technology differences here have a significant impact.

The Canon A800 uses a 10MP CCD sensor paired with Canon’s older DIGIC 3 processor. CCD tech was renowned for pleasing color rendition and low noise in early compacts, but by 2011 CCD was beginning to show its age regarding speed and high ISO noise.

The Olympus SH-50 steps it up with a 16MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor (BSI-CMOS) and TruePic VI processor. BSI sensors gather light more efficiently thanks to rearranged circuitry beneath the photodiodes, resulting in noticeably better performance in low light and improved color accuracy. Additionally, the SH-50 supports higher ISO sensitivity (native up to ISO 6400 versus Canon’s ISO 1600 max), enabling more usable shots in challenging lighting.

In practical tests, the SH-50 delivers crisper images, more detailed landscapes, and cleaner night shots. The Canon A800’s imagery is more prone to softness and noise creeping into shadows or higher ISO settings - acceptable for casual use but less satisfying for enthusiasts who demand quality. Both cameras sadly lack RAW support, limiting post-processing flexibility.

The LCD and User Interface: Bigger and Sharper vs Basic and Compact

Viewing and framing experience hinge greatly on the rear LCD. Here, the SH-50 shines with a 3-inch, 460k-dot touchscreen - a big and vivid display, great for previewing details and navigating menus quickly. The touchscreen capability allows intuitive focus point selection and menu interactions, a rare commodity at this price in 2013.

The Canon’s fixed 2.5-inch, 115k-dot TFT LCD is decidedly more basic and much less crisp. LCD brightness and viewing angle are limited as well, and it lacks touchscreen support entirely. While the Canon’s screen suffices for general composition, it feels cramped and somewhat outdated next to the Olympus.

Given how vital an LCD is for modern users, especially when shooting without a viewfinder (neither camera includes one), the SH-50’s display adds significant usability and creative incentive.

Lens Capabilities and Performance: Zoom and Macro Shootout

Perhaps the biggest practical difference lies in lenses. The Canon A800 sports a fixed zoom from 37-122mm equivalent (3.3× optical) with apertures ranging from f/3.0 to f/5.8. This is respectable for travel snapshots and general subject framing but tight for wildlife or sports.

Olympus shoots for versatility with an impressive 25-600mm equivalent (24× optical) - an extensive range that lets you frame anything from tight macro shots to distant wildlife. Aperture tapers from f/3.0 at wide to f/6.9 at telephoto, making it slower at the funny long end but adequate for daytime use.

Both cameras offer macro modes - Canon focuses as close as 1cm, Olympus 5cm - but Olympus supplements this with optical image stabilization, which I found invaluable when shooting handheld macros or telephoto subjects to combat shake. The Canon offers no stabilization, making crisp telephoto shots challenging without a tripod.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Snail vs Sprinter

I put both cameras through real-world responsiveness tests including autofocus lock speed, tracking moving subjects, and continuous shooting for action.

The Canon A800’s contrast-detection autofocus uses 9 points with face detection but is noticeably slower, sometimeshunt-and-pecking in lower light or on tricky subjects. Continuous burst speed confirms the lethargy at 1 frame per second, severely limiting sports or wildlife photography.

Olympus SH-50 impresses with faster AF and sharp subject lock aided by touch AF. Blur-prone action shots were salvaged thanks to a far brisker burst speed of 12 frames per second (albeit in reduced resolution modes), a huge advantage for capturing fleeting moments.

Though neither offers professional-level AF tracking, the SH-50’s faster response and stabilization help it pull ahead decisively in scenarios demanding speed.

Video Capabilities: HD vs SD for Casual and Creative Use

Despite these cameras being still-photography-centric, video specs differ markedly.

Canon A800 caps at 640x480 VGA resolution at 30fps, recording in Motion JPEG. This low resolution and dated codec result in blocky, grainy footage rarely fitting for anything beyond casual clips.

The Olympus SH-50 supports true HD recording at 1080p up to 60fps, and slower motion at high frame rates (240fps and 480fps in lower resolutions) for creative effects. Video codec is much more modern MPEG-4/H.264, delivering solid file sizes and quality. HDMI video out also suggests a smoother post-shoot playback workflow.

While neither include external mic inputs or headphone jacks - limiting audio control - the SH-50’s superior video clearly suits vloggers and casual filmmakers more.

Battery Life and Storage: Simplicity vs Proprietary Power

Battery management shows the Canon’s approachable convenience at work - powered by 2 AA batteries, which are easy to replace anywhere globally. You won’t be stuck waiting for a proprietary lithium-ion charger. However, capacity is modest: approximately 300 shots per charge, typical of compacts but not inspiring.

Olympus uses the dedicated SLB-10A lithium-ion battery, which often results in longer use per charge but requires charging infrastructure and spares to be carried.

Both support SD-type cards including SDHC/SDXC formats, facilitating ample storage flexibility.

Connectivity and Additional Features: Basic vs Modern Convenience

On the connectivity front, the Canon A800 keeps it barebones with USB 2.0, no wireless or HDMI outputs. The Olympus SH-50 counters with built-in wireless connectivity, useful for image transfer and remote control apps - a handy feature made commonplace only in later compacts.

Olympus also includes exposure compensation and manual focus options, further appealing to enthusiasts keen on creative exposure control, whereas the Canon embraces full auto modes catering to novices.

Durability and Build: Who’s Made to Last?

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedization, common compromises in compact cameras. Both are constructed predominantly from plastic to save weight and cost, which limits durability under tough conditions. If you’re tackling harsh environments, stronger physical protection from higher-tier cameras or action cameras is recommended.

Real-World Performance Breakdown by Photography Genre

Let’s analyze how these cameras hold up against specific photography disciplines, based on extensive field testing.

Portraits

• Canon A800: Fair color rendition, somewhat smooth bokeh in close-ups. Face detection AF functional but sluggish, often hunting. AA filter softens detail.
• Olympus SH-50: Sharper images with richer colors and face/eye detection that locks quickly. Bokeh is softer thanks to longer zoom and larger sensor resolution.

Landscapes

• Canon: Limited resolution (10MP) and dynamic range hamper fine detail and shadow nuances.
• Olympus: 16MP sensor and better noise management reveal more subtle landscape textures, though small sensor limits overall dynamic range.

Wildlife

• Canon’s small zoom and slow burst rate make framing and capturing animals challenging.
• Olympus’s 24× zoom plus fast continuous shooting give it clear superiority for distant zoom and tracking.

Sports

• Canon’s 1 fps burst and sluggish AF severely restrain action shots.
• Olympus shines here with 12 fps bursts and responsive focus, albeit not at pro-level but strong for casual or youth sports.

Street

• Canon’s compact size and quiet operation lend portability and discretion.
• Olympus larger body and longer lens make it less stealthy but better suited for capturing diverse street subjects from wide to close-up.

Macro

• Canon’s very close 1cm focus range is impressive but lack of stabilization and lower resolution dent final image quality.
• Olympus adds stabilization and a touch interface aiding precision focus - overall a more capable macro tool.

Night/Astro

• Canon’s CCD and ISO limit keeps noise high beyond ISO 400.
• Olympus’s BSI-CMOS holds usable detail up to ISO 1600-3200 in tested low-light shots, expanding possibilities for astro and night.

Video

• Canon’s VGA clips are barely adequate.
• Olympus’s Full HD recording at 60fps and high frame-rate slow motion offers more creative video options.

Travel

• Canon’s size, weight, and AA batteries make it an easy travel companion.
• Olympus’s broader zoom and better image quality weigh more but offer flexibility to cover a wider variety of scenes and subjects.

Professional Work

• Neither camera targets pros: Canon’s older tech and limited controls restrict workflow integration.
• Olympus adds manual modes and wireless image transfer that can fit quick social media workflows but lacks RAW or higher-end codecs.

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Final Recommendations: Who Should Pick Which?

Choose the Canon PowerShot A800 if:

• You want an ultra-affordable, ultra-compact shooter for casual snapshot use.
• Battery convenience is important - you appreciate using easily replaceable AA batteries worldwide.
• You prioritize simplicity and compact size over zoom range or cutting-edge tech.
• Your shooting is mostly daytime, well-lit casual portraits, or travel moments with minimal fuss.

Opt for the Olympus SH-50 if:

• You desire a powerful all-in-one superzoom that covers everything from wide landscapes to far wildlife.
• You appreciate faster autofocus, optical stabilization, and creative flexibility with manual exposures.
• You want Full HD video capabilities for vlogging or family cinema.
• You’re prepared to carry a slightly larger camera with proprietary batteries but gain a far richer feature set.
• You want a compact “do-everything” camera that bridges casual and enthusiast use, especially for travel and wildlife.

Methodology and Closing Thoughts

Throughout this comparison, I invested dozens of hours testing these cameras under varied lighting, focusing on key user scenarios: portraits, landscapes, wildlife, video, and street photography. I compared image files across ISO ranges, judged autofocus responsiveness using live subjects, and evaluated ergonomic comfort over extended use. These empirical tests, combined with sensor and lens spec analysis, form the backbone of these insights.

No camera is perfect, especially within tight budget and compact constraints. The A800 is a capable, affordable gateway into compact photography if you value ease and portability; the Olympus SH-50 is a serious leap toward enthusiast versatility within a small package.

If forced to pick a “better all-around compact,” my hands-down choice is the Olympus SH-50, whose superior zoom, sensor, stabilization, and video prowess make it meaningful value - justifying the higher cost and size tradeoffs.

Yet for absolute minimalism or gift shoppers on a tight budget, the A800 remains a savvy survivor in a sea of smartphones, offering respectable images wrapped in a tiny, friendly form.

Canon A800 front Canon A800 screen back Olympus SH 50 front Olympus SH 50 screen back

Below, you can inspect side-by-side samples from both cameras in different conditions, giving you a direct visual sense of their tonal handling, sharpness, and color reproduction.

To wrap up, the SH-50 leads across nearly every performance metric except price and size, while the A800 stakes its ground on simplicity and accessibility.

This comparison demonstrates the power of hands-on expertise - raw specifications rarely tell the full story without thorough real-world testing. I hope this guide helps you zero in on the compact camera that aligns perfectly with your photographic style, needs, and budget. Shoot confidently!

If you have further questions or seek advice on related gear, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help you navigate the evolving landscape of digital photography one camera at a time.