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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P5
Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-2
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and SH-1 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and SH-1 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was launched 3 years before the SH-1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-P3 grades versus the SH-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus SH-1

 E-P3 SH-1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution614k460kCrisper screen (+154k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Olympus E-P3

 SH-1 E-P3 
ReleasedMarch 2014August 2011Fresher by 31 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SH-1

 E-P3 SH-1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 offers physical measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Olympus SH-1 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).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P3 vs the SH-1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and SH-1 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The visual underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and SH-1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus SH-1 will give greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SH-1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
has face detect focusing
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Olympus SH-1
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
screen does not articulate
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus via touch
lighter than average in class (271g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-1 Sports photography info
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography details
Olympus SH-1 Travel photography details
60
supports touch to focus
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
74
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SH-1 Landscape photography factors
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging features
Olympus SH-1 Vlogging features
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
37
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone support
lighter than average in class (271g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus SH-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus SH-1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus Stylus SH-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus Stylus SH-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-08-17 2014-03-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
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 format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 lbs) 271g (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 380 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $349