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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Announced March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-2
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Olympus. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and SH-1 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and SH-1 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 3 years prior to the SH-1 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL3 matches up against the SH-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus SH-1

 E-PL3 SH-1 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 SH-1 E-PL3 
AnnouncedMarch 2014September 2011More modern by 30 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SH-1

 E-PL3 SH-1 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 features external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-1 has measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 vs the SH-1.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and SH-1 is 88 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking specifications. The picture here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and SH-1.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus SH-1 will give extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography information
Olympus SH-1 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Olympus SH-1
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus by touch
lighter than competitors (271g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-1 Sports photography info
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
great battery life (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Olympus SH-1 Travel photography info
44
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
74
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
has focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Olympus SH-1 Landscape photography features
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
great battery life (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging factors
Olympus SH-1 Vlogging factors
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
37
quite wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Olympus SH-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Olympus SH-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Olympus Stylus SH-1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus Stylus SH-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-09-20 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 dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 271g (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 380 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $399 $349