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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and SH-2 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was brought out 5 years prior to the SH-2 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PL1 grades versus the SH-2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SH-2

 E-PL1 SH-2 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-PL1

 SH-2 E-PL1 
ReleasedMarch 2015May 2010More modern by 58 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-2

 E-PL1 SH-2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 has got external measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus SH-2 has sizing of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 versus the SH-2.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and SH-2 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The pic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and SH-2.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus SH-2 will offer extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
44
good MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
features focus via touch
lighter than others in class (271g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (290 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (290 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
74
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (271g)
features focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography information
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (290 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
35
relatively wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (271g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-05-17 2015-03-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 271 grams (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 380 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $288 $399