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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 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
  • Launched November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-2
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and SH-3 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and SH-3 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was introduced 5 years earlier than the SH-3 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PM1 matches up versus the SH-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus SH-3

 E-PM1 SH-3 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Olympus E-PM1

 SH-3 E-PM1 
ReleasedFebruary 2016November 2011More modern by 51 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-3

 E-PM1 SH-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 provides outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Olympus SH-3 has specifications of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 vs the SH-3.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and SH-3 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The picture below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and SH-3.

As you can see, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus SH-3 will give more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SH-3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
44
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
manual focus not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
Street photography with Olympus SH-3
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 shots)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Olympus SH-3 Travel photography information
45
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
74
good battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than others in class (271g)
features touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SH-3 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
55
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
good battery power (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging info
Olympus SH-3 Vlogging info
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others in class (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SH-3
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus Stylus SH-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-11-23 2016-02-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 11.5 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 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) 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 271 grams (0.60 lbs)
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 score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 380 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $499 $579