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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Launched March 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Renewed by Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and SH-2 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was launched 5 years prior to the SH-2 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PL2 grades versus the SH-2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus SH-2

 E-PL2 SH-2 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-PL2

 SH-2 E-PL2 
LaunchedMarch 2015February 2011More modern by 49 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SH-2

 E-PL2 SH-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 has outer dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Olympus SH-2 has proportions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 versus the SH-2.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and SH-2 is 85 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and SH-2.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus SH-2 will render more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
44
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography features
Olympus SH-2 Street photography features
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
lighter than average (271g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery life (280 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
great battery (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
Olympus SH-2 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low battery life (280 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
74
great battery (380 shots)
lighter than average (271 grams)
boasts focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
low battery life (280 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
55
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
saves RAW files
great battery (380 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (271 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-11 2015-03-11
Physical type 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 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 images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format 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 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 271 grams (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 114 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 All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos 380 photos
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 recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $399