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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
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
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus SH-2
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and SH-3 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and SH-3 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was released within a month of the SH-3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the PEN-F scores versus the SH-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus SH-3

 PEN-F SH-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 SH-3 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SH-3

 PEN-F SH-3 
RevealedJanuary 2016February 2016Same generation
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F comes with external dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus SH-3 has dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Look at the Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the PEN-F compared to the SH-3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and SH-3 is 84 and 88 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the PEN-F and SH-3.

As you can see, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The PEN-F due to its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will render greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography information
Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography information
75
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
44
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
Street photography with Olympus SH-3
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
offers focus by touch
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
bad battery power (330 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SH-3 as a Travel photography camera
75
supports touch focus
good megapixels (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery power (330 per charge)
74
great battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
offers focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography details
Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography details
76
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (330 per charge)
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging info
Olympus SH-3 Vlogging info
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SH-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SH-3
 Olympus PEN-FOlympus Stylus SH-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN-F Olympus Stylus SH-3
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-27 2016-02-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 11.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 271 grams (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" 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 380 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $1,000 $579