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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the SH-2 (16MP) is very similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was launched 3 years prior to the SH-2 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-M5 scores against the SH-2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

 E-M5 SH-2 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k460kCrisper display (+150k dot)

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

 SH-2 E-M5 
IntroducedMarch 2015April 2012Fresher by 34 months

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

 E-M5 SH-2 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 provides external measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus SH-2 has specifications of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 versus the SH-2.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and SH-2 is 81 and 88 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and SH-2.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor sizing. The E-M5 features the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier. The older E-M5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography info
Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
44
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Olympus SH-2 Street photography info
82
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (25,600)
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
supports touch focus
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography factors
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Olympus SH-2
66
weather proof
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
74
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
supports touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography details
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography details
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
doesn't have Timelapse function
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging features
34
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-30 2015-03-11
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 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
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 271 gr (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 380 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $799 $399