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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Released March 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Replacement is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the SH-2 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was launched 16 months prior to the SH-2 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-M1 scores versus the SH-2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus SH-2

 E-M1 SH-2 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-M1

 SH-2 E-M1 
ReleasedMarch 2015October 2013More recent by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SH-2

 E-M1 SH-2 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 has outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Olympus SH-2 has sizing of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 vs the SH-2.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and SH-2 is 71 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The graphic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and SH-2.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-M1 contains the bigger sensor which should make getting bokeh simpler. The older E-M1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
71
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/320s)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
44
good MP (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
Olympus SH-2 Street photography advice
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than others (497 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
supports focus by touch
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography info
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery power (350 per charge)
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others (497 grams)
weather sealing
comes with touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
low battery power (350 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
74
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lighter than average in class (271g)
supports focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography information
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
low battery power (350 per charge)
55
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging highlights
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone support
lighter than others (497g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
35
decently wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic port
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-10-28 2015-03-11
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 497 grams (1.10 lb) 271 grams (0.60 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 380 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $799 $399