Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2
58 Imaging
47 Features
76 Overall
58


88 Imaging
40 Features
51 Overall
44
Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-5 & Olympus Stylus SH-2. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Olympus SH-2 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus SH-2
E-5 | SH-2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very precise focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 460k | Crisper display (+460k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-5
SH-2 | E-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | March 2015 | ![]() | February 2011 | More modern by 49 months |
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus SH-2
E-5 | SH-2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications
Olympus E-5 | Olympus 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 |