Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-3

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the SH-3 (16MP) is very close but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and SH-3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was unveiled 8 months later than the SH-3 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL8 grades against the SH-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Olympus Stylus SH-3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Olympus SH-3 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 features outside 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-3 has measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SH-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL8 versus the SH-3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and SH-3 is 86 and 88 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by viewing technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and SH-3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got the exact same resolution but different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 features the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult. The fresher E-PL8 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.