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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Launched August 2009
Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced March 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus SH-3
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus SH-2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the SX120 IS (10MP) and SH-2 (16MP) and the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and SH-2 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The SX120 IS was unveiled 6 years before the SH-2 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SX120 IS scores versus the SH-2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Olympus SH-2

 SX120 IS SH-2 
Manually focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Canon SX120 IS

 SH-2 SX120 IS 
AnnouncedMarch 2015August 2009More recent by 67 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus SH-2

 SX120 IS SH-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SX120 IS has exterior dimensions of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") having a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-2 has measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus SH-2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the SX120 IS versus the SH-2.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX120 IS and SH-2 is 87 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX120 IS and SH-2.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SX120 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SH-2 will produce extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older SX120 IS will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Portrait photography advice
Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography advice
33
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
44
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
no manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Street photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
51
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than average (285g)
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
lighter than competition (271 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Sports photography highlights
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography highlights
26
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect AF
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography features
Olympus SH-2 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
long zoom (360mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (285g)
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
74
great battery (380 shots)
lighter than competition (271g)
offers touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography highlights
36
has manual focus
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
saves RAW files
great battery (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging information
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging information
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than average (285 grams)
35
really wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone jack
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Olympus SH-2
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISOlympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Olympus Stylus SH-2
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2015-03-11
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-360mm (10.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2500s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 285 gr (0.63 lbs) 271 gr (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 380 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $249 $399