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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Released March 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Replacement is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus SH-2, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and SH-2 (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was introduced 5 years earlier than the SH-2 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-5 scores against the SH-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus SH-2

 E-5 SH-2 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-5

 SH-2 E-5 
ReleasedMarch 2015February 2011More modern by 49 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus SH-2

 E-5 SH-2 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 offers exterior dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-2 has proportions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus SH-2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-5 vs the SH-2.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and SH-2 is 58 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and SH-2.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-5 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus SH-2 will resolve greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged E-5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
44
decent MP (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-5
Street photography with Olympus SH-2
71
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography info
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
good battery power (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography details
Olympus SH-2 Travel photography details
56
environment proofing
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
74
good battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
has touch focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography details
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography details
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
55
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
good battery power (380 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging info
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging info
64
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
has external mic port
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus E-5Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-5 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-03 2015-03-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 11.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 271 gr (0.60 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 pictures 380 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Dual 1
Cost at launch $1,700 $399