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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 III
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
  • Launched March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • New Model is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus SH-2, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the SH-2 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 II was introduced about the same time to the SH-2 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-M5 II grades versus the SH-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus SH-2

 E-M5 II SH-2 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 SH-2 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus SH-2

 E-M5 II SH-2 
LaunchedFebruary 2015March 2015Similar age
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II has got physical dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Olympus SH-2 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus SH-2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 II versus the SH-2.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and SH-2 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and SH-2.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-M5 II features the bigger sensor which will make obtaining bokeh easier.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
44
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography features
Olympus SH-2 Street photography features
82
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
features focus via touch
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography info
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography info
65
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
bad battery life (310 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Travel photography with Olympus SH-2
74
environment proof
boasts focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery life (310 per charge)
74
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
features focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography details
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
bad battery life (310 CIPA)
55
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging advice
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging advice
82
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (271g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus Stylus SH-2
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2015-02-06 2015-03-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII TruePic VII
Sensor type MOS 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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 11.5 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469 grams (1.03 lb) 271 grams (0.60 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 380 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $699 $399