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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS16
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was manufactured 2 years later than the FH2 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SH-50 grades vs the FH2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Panasonic FH2

 SH-50 FH2 
LaunchedJanuary 2013January 2011More recent by 25 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus SH-50

 FH2 SH-50 

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FH2

 SH-50 FH2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-50 has got outer dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic FH2 has dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the SH-50 and the FH2.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and FH2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-50 and FH2.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should expect the Olympus SH-50 to produce greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger SH-50 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-50
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH2
44
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography info
Panasonic FH2 Street photography info
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
lighter than competition (269g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography details
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography details
48
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery power (270 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography information
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography information
69
lighter than competition (269g)
offers touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
72
great battery power (270 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography advice
49
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
41
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
great battery power (270 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (269 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
32
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus SH-50Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SH-50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-01-08 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 121 gr (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 270 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $300 $149