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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus SH-50 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P5
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
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-P3 versus Olympus SH-50, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and SH-50 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and SH-50 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was launched 17 months before the SH-50 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-P3 matches up versus the SH-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus SH-50

 E-P3 SH-50 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus E-P3

 SH-50 E-P3 
IntroducedJanuary 2013August 2011Newer by 17 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SH-50

 E-P3 SH-50 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 has got external measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-50 has sizing of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 versus Olympus SH-50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-P3 compared to the SH-50.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and SH-50 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching specifications. The picture below should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and SH-50.

To sum up, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus SH-50 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
44
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Olympus SH-50
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
screen does not articulate
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
lighter than average (269g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-50 Sports photography info
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
48
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
60
has touch focus
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (269 grams)
includes touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Olympus SH-50
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
49
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Olympus SH-50 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
34
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (269 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SH-50
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus SH-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus SH-50
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-08-17 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI TruePic VI
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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 grams (0.81 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $0 $300