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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
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
  • Released March 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-1
  • New Model is Olympus SH-3
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Here is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-PM1 versus Olympus SH-2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and SH-2 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and SH-2 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The E-PM1 was brought out 4 years prior to the SH-2 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PM1 grades against the SH-2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus SH-2

 E-PM1 SH-2 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus E-PM1

 SH-2 E-PM1 
ReleasedMarch 2015November 2011Fresher by 40 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-2

 E-PM1 SH-2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 comes with external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Olympus SH-2 has dimensions 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-PM1 versus Olympus SH-2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM1 vs the SH-2.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and SH-2 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading through specifications. The photograph here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and SH-2.

Plainly, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus SH-2 will give you extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-PM1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
44
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Olympus SH-2 Street photography information
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
lighter than average in class (271g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-2 Sports photography info
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect auto focus
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography advice
Olympus SH-2 Travel photography advice
45
no Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
74
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
features touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography features
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography features
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
no Timelapse function
55
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Olympus SH-2
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone support
35
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-2
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus Stylus SH-2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-11-23 2015-03-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI 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 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
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 -
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 range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 11.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 271 gr (0.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 380 pictures
Battery style 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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $499 $399