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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus SH-50 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SH-50, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the SH-50 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and SH-50 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was manufactured 5 months after the SH-50 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PM2 scores against the SH-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus SH-50

 E-PM2 SH-50 

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus E-PM2

 SH-50 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SH-50

 E-PM2 SH-50 
RevealedMay 2013January 2013Similar generation
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 features physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Olympus SH-50 has proportions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SH-50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PM2 and the SH-50.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and SH-50 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and SH-50.

As you can see, the two cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 offers the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography info
Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
44
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography highlights
Olympus SH-50 Street photography highlights
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
lighter than average (269 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography details
Olympus SH-50 Sports photography details
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
48
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
66
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (269g)
offers focus via touch
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Olympus SH-50
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
34
relatively wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (269 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SH-50
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus SH-50
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus SH-50
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-05-21 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic VI
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269g (0.59 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
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 All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $448 $300