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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus SH-50 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus E-PM1 versus Olympus SH-50, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and SH-50 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and SH-50 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was brought out 13 months prior to the SH-50 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PM1 matches up against the SH-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus SH-50

 E-PM1 SH-50 

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus E-PM1

 SH-50 E-PM1 
ReleasedJanuary 2013November 2011Fresher by 13 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-50

 E-PM1 SH-50 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 features outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Olympus SH-50 has sizing of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 versus Olympus SH-50 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the SH-50.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and SH-50 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The visual below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and SH-50.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SH-50 will provide greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
44
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (269g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Olympus SH-50 Sports photography details
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect auto focus
48
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Travel photography camera
45
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competitors in class (269 grams)
includes touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Olympus SH-50
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
49
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external mic support
34
rather wide (25mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (269 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-50
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus SH-50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus SH-50
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-11-23 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI TruePic VI
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $499 $300