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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
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
  • Revealed March 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-1
  • Updated by Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

The following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Olympus SH-2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the SH-2 (16MP) is very close but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was released 19 months after the SH-2 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL8 grades against the SH-2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus SH-2

 E-PL8 SH-2 
RevealedSeptember 2016March 2015Newer by 19 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-PL8

 SH-2 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SH-2

 E-PL8 SH-2 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with external measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-2 has sizing of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL8 versus Olympus SH-2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL8 against the SH-2.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and SH-2 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through specs. The pic here might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and SH-2.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide the same megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 has the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The more recent E-PL8 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
72
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
44
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
manual focus not available
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Olympus SH-2
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
lighter than others (271 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography highlights
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography info
Olympus SH-2 Travel photography info
71
offers touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
74
great battery life (380 shots)
lighter than others (271 grams)
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Olympus SH-2
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
55
really wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging features
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
35
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-09-19 2015-03-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII 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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
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 8.0 frames per second 11.5 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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 file format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 357 gr (0.79 lb) 271 gr (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 380 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Launch price $500 $399