Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic 3D1

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic 3D1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and 3D1 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-50 was revealed 15 months after the 3D1 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the SH-50 scores against the 3D1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1. The full galleries are available at Olympus SH-50 Gallery and Panasonic 3D1 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-50 features outer dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic 3D1 has measurements of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic 3D1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SH-50 and the 3D1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and 3D1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Often, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking specs. The pic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and 3D1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SH-50 to give you extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The newer SH-50 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.