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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus SH-50 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Updated by Olympus E-P2
Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Olympus. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and SH-50 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and SH-50 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was launched 4 years prior to the SH-50 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-P1 matches up vs the SH-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus SH-50

 E-P1 SH-50 

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus E-P1

 SH-50 E-P1 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2009More recent by 41 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SH-50

 E-P1 SH-50 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 enjoys external measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus SH-50 has measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P1 against the SH-50.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and SH-50 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The photograph below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and SH-50.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SH-50 will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-50
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography advice
Olympus SH-50 Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (269 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography details
Olympus SH-50 Sports photography details
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
48
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
43
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition in class (269 grams)
provides focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography details
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging info
Olympus SH-50 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
34
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (269g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SH-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SH-50
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus SH-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus SH-50
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-07-29 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V TruePic VI
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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 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 format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $182 $300