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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Introduced March 2009
Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced March 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus SH-2, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and SH-2 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-30 was brought out 7 years before the SH-2 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-30 grades against the SH-2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus SH-2

 E-30 SH-2 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-30

 SH-2 E-30 
IntroducedMarch 2015March 2009More modern by 72 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus SH-2

 E-30 SH-2 

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 comes with outer dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-2 has sizing of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus SH-2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 against the SH-2.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and SH-2 is 60 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The image below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and SH-2.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-30 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus SH-2 will provide you with extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography highlights
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
44
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography information
Olympus SH-2 Street photography information
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
includes touch focus
lighter than competition (271 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-30
Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
51
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery pack (750 per charge)
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
great battery power (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
49
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
74
great battery power (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
includes touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Olympus SH-2
52
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
55
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
exports RAW files
great battery power (380 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging factors
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging factors
18
lack of video recording
35
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus E-30Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-03-24 2015-03-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 271 grams (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 photographs 380 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,299 $399