Nikon S640 vs Olympus SH-1

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Nikon S640 versus Olympus SH-1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the S640 (12MP) and SH-1 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S640 was revealed 5 years earlier than the SH-1 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a short summation of how the S640 scores vs the SH-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix S640 & Olympus Stylus SH-1. The full galleries are provided at Nikon S640 Gallery & Olympus SH-1 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon S640 comes with exterior measurements of 91mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Olympus SH-1 has measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S640 versus Olympus SH-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the S640 versus the SH-1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S640 and SH-1 is 96 and 88 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to see the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing specs. The visual underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S640 and SH-1.

All in all, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus SH-1 to provide more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older S640 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.