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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

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

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Replacement is OM System OM-5
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
  • Introduced March 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Replacement is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus SH-2, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Olympus. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and SH-2 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 III was brought out 4 years later than the SH-2 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M5 III grades versus the SH-2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

 E-M5 III SH-2 
IntroducedOctober 2019March 2015More recent by 57 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 SH-2 E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III SH-2 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch display Easily navigate

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

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III offers outer dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-2 has proportions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus SH-2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 III versus the SH-2.

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

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and SH-2 is 80 and 88 respectively.

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

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

In many cases, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The visual here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and SH-2.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 III because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-M5 III will resolve extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography factors
Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography factors
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
44
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
83
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
lighter than competition (271g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography info
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography info
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (30.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (310 CIPA)
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography features
Olympus SH-2 Travel photography features
77
environment sealing
has bluetooth
boasts touch focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery pack (310 per charge)
74
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
features touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography factors
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography factors
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery pack (310 per charge)
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging factors
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging factors
84
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus Stylus SH-2
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2019-10-17 2015-03-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII TruePic VII
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0fps 11.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lb) 271 grams (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 380 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Launch cost $1,199 $399