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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 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
  • Announced May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-2
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SH-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the SH-3 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and SH-3 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was revealed 3 years earlier than the SH-3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-PM2 scores against the SH-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus SH-3

 E-PM2 SH-3 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Olympus E-PM2

 SH-3 E-PM2 
IntroducedFebruary 2016May 2013More modern by 33 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SH-3

 E-PM2 SH-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 has got exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and 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).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SH-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 vs the SH-3.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and SH-3 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and SH-3.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 has the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The more aged E-PM2 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography details
Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
44
good MP (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography highlights
Olympus SH-3 Street photography highlights
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
boasts touch focus
lighter than competition (271 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography highlights
Olympus SH-3 Travel photography highlights
66
offers focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
74
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
boasts touch focus
good MP (16MP)
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-PM2 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography factors
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
55
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Olympus SH-3
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SH-3
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus Stylus SH-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-05-21 2016-02-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lbs) 271g (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 Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 380 photos
Battery type 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $448 $579