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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Olympus SH-50 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SH-50, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Olympus. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and SH-50 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and SH-50 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The PEN-F was unveiled 3 years later than the SH-50 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the PEN-F grades against the SH-50 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus SH-50

 PEN-F SH-50 
RevealedJanuary 2016January 2013More recent by 38 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus PEN-F

 SH-50 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SH-50

 PEN-F SH-50 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F has outer measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus SH-50 has dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SH-50 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 vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the PEN-F against the SH-50.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and SH-50 is 84 and 88 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The photograph here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and SH-50.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will provide you with greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography information
Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography information
75
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
44
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Street photography camera
84
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than competition (269 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Olympus SH-50 Sports photography details
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low battery pack (330 per charge)
no phase detect AF
48
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus PEN-F
Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
75
offers touch focus
MP count decent (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
low battery pack (330 shots)
69
lighter than competition (269g)
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (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

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography information
Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography information
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
low battery pack (330 CIPA)
49
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging factors
Olympus SH-50 Vlogging factors
78
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of mic jack
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (269g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SH-50
 Olympus PEN-FOlympus SH-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN-F Olympus SH-50
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-27 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 -
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 - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 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 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 427g (0.94 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $1,000 $300